MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairperson Summer Strand, announced on Sep 13th, that the PSC awarded more than $27.8 million in funding from the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program to fund 11 projects throughout Wisconsin that will improve internet connectivity by providing access to devices, technology, and digital navigators.

Through the 11 projects awarded funding under the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program, an estimated 52,409 households will receive a loaned device and 33,682 households will have access to free Wi-Fi. The Capital Projects Fund (CPF) Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program is focused on internet adoption and affordability in order to complement the historic federal and state broadband expansion investments that have helped more than 410,000 homes and businesses access new or improved broadband services under Gov. Evers’ leadership since 2019. 

“Having access to reliable, high-speed internet is a necessity for how we do work, how we learn, how we see our doctors, how we stay connected to our communities—and I am proud that no administration in state history has done more to expand access to high-speed internet than we have,” said Gov. Evers. “Since 2019, we’ve allocated more than $345 million to ensure more than 410,000 homes and businesses will have new or improved, reliable, high-speed internet, and I remain committed to ensuring that we close the digital divide and keep up our economic momentum.”

Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded Wisconsin funding through the CPF to administer this program and address critical gaps in high-speed internet access, affordability, and adoption, providing a unique opportunity to bridge the digital divide in Wisconsin.

Data from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates that approximately seven percent of Wisconsin residents did not have a computer in the household. And regardless of whether a device is in the household, over 12 percent of households did not have a broadband subscription.

The Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program promotes digital connectivity by deploying devices such as computers, laptops, and tablets for eligible households to access. The program also promotes digital connectivity through the installation of Wi-Fi equipment in eligible multi-dwelling units, which includes apartment buildings, condominiums, and mobile home parks. Both approaches will include the provision of digital navigation services to ensure Wisconsinites can make full use of the internet for work, education, health monitoring, and other essential activities. A digital navigator is a trusted guide who assists others with internet adoption and digital device use.

“Under Governor Evers’ leadership, Wisconsin has made historic strides to expand access to new or improved broadband infrastructure, but this alone is not enough to bridge the digital divide in our state,” said PSC Chairperson Strand. “To complement this essential initiative, the 11 Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program grants awarded will help thousands more Wisconsin households receive devices, obtain affordable internet service, and acquire digital literacy skills training. I am proud of the PSC’s continued efforts to improve internet adoption and affordability so people across Wisconsin can use the internet to live, learn, work, and participate fully in our society.”

The CPF Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program is a grant program administered by the PSC and does not serve as a replacement for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, helped qualified households pay for broadband. The ACP ended in April 2024 due to a lack of additional funding from the U.S. Congress.

Additional information about the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program is available here.

A summary of the applications awarded grant funding is available here.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND INVESTMENTS IN WISCONSIN
The CPF is designed to address the barriers to internet access that existed before but were made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. In March, Gov. Evers announced the award of $43.2 million in grants funded by ARPA to expand access to broadband across the state through the CPF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. Under ARPA, the U.S. Department of Treasury awarded Wisconsin $42 million through the CPF to administer the Broadband Infrastructure Program and invest in broadband construction and deployment that will provide high-quality internet to locations that lack access to adequate, affordable service. The Commission’s awards also incorporated $1.3 million in additional funding from previous ARPA broadband allocations directed by Gov. Evers, which were available due to administrative savings and underspending on previously awarded projects.

Additionally, in April, the Wisconsin Department of Administration announced the?opening of the application period for the Flexible Facility Program.?Under ARPA, the U.S. Department of Treasury awarded Wisconsin $107 million through the CPF to construct or improve buildings such as libraries, community centers, and multi-purpose community facilities that will offer reliable, affordable high-speed internet and other digital connectivity technology that will directly enable work, education, and health monitoring, as well as purchase digital connectivity equipment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EVERS ADMINISTRATION INVESTMENTS IN HIGH-SPEED INTERNET STATEWIDE
Gov. Evers’ administration has done more to expand access to high-speed internet than any other administration in state history. Since 2019, Gov. Evers has allocated more than $345 million in state and federal funds to expand high-speed internet, including the largest state investment in state history. These investments have made it possible for the Commission to award grants to help more than 410,000 homes and businesses access new or improved broadband services. In his most recent budget, the governor recommended allocating $750 million in state funding for broadband expansion to supplement the federal funding being allocated to the state in coming years. Unfortunately, despite that the federal funds Wisconsin expects to receive will not be sufficient to address the broadband needs across the state, Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature removed this funding from the final budget and provided $0 in new funding for broadband.

In addition to state and federal investments, in 2020, Gov. Evers created the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access to advise the governor and the Legislature on broadband actions, policies, and strategies to successfully expand high-speed internet in Wisconsin. In 2021, Gov. Evers declared it the Year of Broadband Access, and during that year, Gov. Evers directed $100 million in federal funds to broadband expansion—the largest single round of broadband investment in state history. Further, last year, Gov. Evers, together with the PSC and the Department of Public Instruction, also announced the launch of the Internet Discount Finder website to help Wisconsin households find and access affordable internet.

The Evers Administration is continuing this work as the PSC prepares to implement President Biden’s ‘Internet for All’ Initiative and reach Gov. Evers’ goal of bridging Wisconsin’s digital divide.