UW-Extension's Building Community Capacity Through Broadband

Email message re: Clarification on UW-Extension Broadband Grants

University Wisconsin-Extension staff have received many inquiries over the past two days about whether or not our federal grants for building and expanding broadband networks in five demonstration communities statewide have been revoked. They have not.

UW-Extension’s Building Community Capacity through Broadband program is managing two grants totaling $32.3 million. The $29.9 million infrastructure grant is expanding broadband connections for key community institutions in Platteville, Wausau, Superior and the Chippewa Valley region. The $2.4 million outreach and education grant is serving those communities and the Menominee Nation.

Both are moving forward and the work is progressing as planned.

The $23 million broadband grant being declined by the state, which has been referenced in recent newspaper articles, will have no impact on our efforts.

We will have more news on our broadband grant work in March and will keep you updated through the N&I employee online newsletter.