The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin announced the federal government approved Wisconsin’s final broadband internet proposal, which will unlock over $1 billion in federal investments
“Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for how we learn, work, and stay connected in the 21st Century, and as a result of this years-long effort to secure this approval, we’ll be able to help more than 175,000 homes and businesses get online across the state,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “After three years of working to implement the BEAD program and the Trump Administration making changes in the final hour, getting to this point today was a marathon effort. I’m grateful for the folks at PSC and others who helped secure this important federal approval to move forward our state’s efforts to close the digital divide and ensure folks and families have the reliable, affordable high-speed internet they need and deserve.”
The more than $1 billion in federal investments are unlocked through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approving Wisconsin’s final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program proposal. The awards will provide funding to serve all BEAD-eligible locations throughout the state with the support of more than $397 million in matching funds provided by recipients. Funding will also support high-speed fiber internet services at Community Anchor Institutions such as schools, libraries, and local government and educational facilities. The breakdown of technologies represented in the awards is 76 percent fiber, 10 percent fixed wireless, and 14 percent satellite.
From August 2024 to May 2025, the PSC operated two BEAD Program grant rounds and reviewed bids from eligible entities to ensure reliable, cost-effective universal service. The two grant rounds resulted in 98 percent of locations receiving an application. Of those locations, 99 percent received an application to deploy fiber to premises.
On June 6, NTIA published the “BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice,” which required Wisconsin to rescind its preliminary awards and implement significant changes to its BEAD Program under the Trump Administration’s new “Benefit of the Bargain” grant round.
Failure to comply with the new federal policy notice could have resulted in significant consequences for Wisconsin. As such, the WBO rapidly updated Wisconsin’s BEAD program, in partnership with participating providers, to align with the new requirements and guidelines.
The WBO subsequently completed review and scoring of applications under the BEAD BOB grant round and negotiated with eligible entities for the remaining locations. The PSC approved the Final Proposal with preliminary award recommendations for submission to NTIA at its Sept. 3 open meeting.
Additional information on the BEAD Program is available here.
