PSC Awards ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) awarded grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) ‘Internet for All’ Initiative, including the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Workforce Planning Program and Digital Equity Outreach Program. The grants will support outreach, coordination, and community engagement efforts that will shape the implementation of these historic programs designed to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption in Wisconsin. These grant programs will inform and prepare for the next stages of the ‘Internet for All’ timeline. Once the planning stage is completed over an approximately one-year period, Wisconsin will begin to implement the statewide plans over the next several years. Wisconsin could expect an allocation of $800 million to $1.1 billion to implement these plans under BEAD. Additional federal funding will help to implement the state’s digital equity plan so that all residents have access to a reliable, affordable internet connection. The Commission made awards to two entities totaling $100,000 under the BEAD Workforce Planning Grant Program. The PSC made awards to seven entities totaling $335,000 under the Digital Equity Outreach Grant. [list of the Workforce Planning Grant recipients; list of the Digital Equity Outreach grant recipients]

[04/07/2023]