Evers makes progress with big plans for broadband expansion

In 2021, a task force on broadband appointed by Gov. Tony Evers released a report outlining strategies for making high-speed internet available to every home, business and institution in the state by 2025.

The report called for more funding for the state broadband expansion grant program, establishing a program to help low-income families afford service, increased consumer protections and improved pricing transparency.

From 2019, the year Evers took office, to early 2022, Wisconsin had allocated nearly $60 million for broadband, also known as high-speed internet, aimed at tens of thousands of households and businesses. On June 24, 2022, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission awarded an additional $125 million in broadband expansion grants for 71 projects aimed at reaching around 83,000 homes and 4,600 businesses. 

The PSC says about 650,000 people in the state lack home internet access of 25 megabit-per-second downloads and 3 Mbps uploads, which is adequate for streaming a video or taking an online class. And, officials say, another 650,000 people just can’t afford the service that’s available to them. 

So, progress is being made on getting high-speed broadband access to homes, but there are still hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without access. 

This promise was previously rated In the Works. 

In some cases, such as raising the minimum wage, there has been no progress under Evers. In this case, there has been progress – just not enough to meet the original goal.

With the end of the term approaching, we rate this one Compromise.