Wisconsin GOP Cuts $750 Million from State Broadband Budget

Efforts to expand high-speed internet access in Wisconsin have hit a political roadblock, stalled by partisan infighting, according to Democratic Assembly members. A budget proposal made by Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI)) seeking $750 million in state funding to supplement federal broadband dollars was removed during the final stages from the state’s 2023-25 budget by Republican lawmakers on the Joint Finance Committee. Rep. Mark Born (R-WI), who co-chairs the Republican-led budget committee, justified the funding removal by noting Wisconsin was set to receive $1.1 billion in federal money to expand broadband through the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Despite GOP assembly members emphasizing their priority to spend federal funds first, Gov. Evers has expressed that he will continue to advocate for state broadband funding in the next budget cycle.