Press Release: Gov. Evers, PSC Announce $60 Million to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet Across Unserved Communities

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 05/19/2026 05:00 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers, PSC Announce $60 Million to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet Across Unserved Communities
 
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), today announced $60 million to expand access to high-speed internet in unserved communities through the State Broadband Expansion Grant Program. The grant funding is available to organizations, telecommunications utilities, or a city, village, town, or county partnering with a telecommunications provider, for the purpose of providing internet connectivity to more homes and businesses in Wisconsin.

“Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for how we learn, work, and stay connected in the 21st Century, and with this latest round of funding, we’re working to ensure these resources are available to every Wisconsinite, regardless of their ZIP code,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m jazzed that we’re working to get this funding out the door so we can move forward with 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.”

This grant round is intended to close gaps by reaching locations not served by the federally funded Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, as well as providing improved broadband service to certain locations in the state. The PSC is now accepting applications for broadband construction projects in unserved areas of the state, specifically targeting locations that lack speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Additional information about the State Broadband Expansion Grant Program grant eligibility can be found on the PSC website.

Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration have been working to address the state’s digital divide for years, even as the Wisconsin State Legislature, for two consecutive two-year state budgets, has approved $0 in new state funding for broadband expansion. Gov. Evers and his administration have done more to expand access to high-speed internet in Wisconsin 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. Thanks to the Evers Administration’s efforts, more than 410,000 Wisconsin homes and businesses will have access to new or improved high-speed internet. 

“Under Gov. Evers’ leadership, we have made significant progress toward our goal of minimizing the digital divide in Wisconsin, but the work is not over,” said PSC Chairperson Summer Strand. “This next State Broadband Expansion Grant round will help even more people and businesses connect to high-speed internet. These crucial state investments in reliable technology and durable infrastructure support increased internet adoption efforts, help make service more affordable, and prepare our state for the future. All eligible entities are encouraged to apply for this important funding opportunity!”

The Wisconsin Broadband Office estimates that after removing locations set to receive improved fiber and fixed wireless service through BEAD or other programs, at least 30,000 locations in Wisconsin would remain unserved. These remaining locations require connectivity funding and stand to benefit from State Broadband Expansion Grant Program funds. Despite no additional state funding in recent state budgets, thanks to the PSC’s fiscally responsible management, the 2026 State Broadband Expansion Grant Round utilizes underspent and returned funds from prior state broadband grant rounds, as well as funding from the Universal Service Fund.

This announcement comes as, in December 2025, the federal government approved Wisconsin’s final BEAD Program proposal, which unlocked over $1 billion in federal investments secured under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden. Today, the PSC is currently administering the federally funded BEAD Program, with construction expected to begin Summer 2026. 

Although the state has made significant progress under the BEAD Program, critical infrastructure gaps will persist due to policy changes and delays at the federal level, and Republicans’ failure in the Legislature to provide additional state funding to address the gaps. For example, the BEAD Program initially prioritized the deployment of best available fiber technology because it provides more reliable service than other broadband technologies, such as unlicensed fixed wireless and satellite. In June 2025, the Trump Administration issued new program guidance that ultimately resulted in more funding awards to projects that utilize less reliable technologies and infrastructure with shorter useful lives and lower performance speeds than fiber. Additionally, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) continues to delay critical guidance to enable states to utilize their full BEAD funding amounts. Gov. Evers recently wrote a letter to NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth urging action to release this guidance.

For more information on the 2026 State Broadband Expansion Grant Program, interested entities are encouraged to register for a PSC webinar on June 8, 2026, at 11 a.m. CT. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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