Baldwin Announces Over $13 Million for Broadband Expansion in Wisconsin

WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced Wisconsin will be receiving $13.2 million to help connect more Wisconsin families with high-speed broadband. The funding, from the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help implement Wisconsin’s Digital Equity Plan, a comprehensive roadmap for the state to expand access to high-speed internet and close the digital divide.

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity for our small businesses, family farms, and neighborhoods throughout Wisconsin,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to bring home this investment so all communities across Badger state can get online – moving our economy forward and creating good-paying jobs in the process.”

“We know that having access to reliable, high-speed internet is necessary for how we work, learn, and stay connected in today's day and age, and I’m proud we’ve been able to make significant investments to ensure more than 410,000 homes and businesses will have new or improved high-speed internet,” said Governor Evers. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration and Senator Baldwin, these State Digital Equity Capacity grant funds are going to build on that work and bring Wisconsin another step closer to closing the digital divide in our state and ensuring folks and families have the reliable, affordable, high-speed internet they need and deserve.”

The Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created the Digital Equity Act (DEA) to ensure that all communities can access and use affordable, reliable high-speed internet to meet their needs and improve their lives.

In October 2022, NTIA allocated Wisconsin more than $950,000 under the DEA program to conduct outreach and engagement activities to develop the state’s Digital Equity Plan. In March, NTIA accepted Wisconsin’s Digital Equity Plan, making them eligible to receive Digital Equity Capacity Grant funding.

The Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan is designed to align with and complement BIL’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to fund broadband infrastructure deployment and achieve high-speed internet access for all. In 2023, Senator Baldwin announced $1.05 billion in BEAD funding for Wisconsin. 

###