USDA Invests $8.6 Million More in High-Speed Internet for Rural Wisconsin

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that the Department is investing $8,689,845.00 more for high-speed internet expansion in rural Wisconsin. The grants are through the Community Connect Program. Nearly $17.6 million has been awarded to Wisconsin through the Community Connect program since 2021.

“Access to high-speed internet is a necessity in today’s world,” said Lassa. “The projects funded through the Community Connect grants help expand online educational opportunities for rural students, enable people to access medical care without leaving home, and allow business owners to connect with customers and markets around the world. It’s part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in rural infrastructure and affordable high-speed internet for every American.”

The Community Connect Program helps rural communities extend access where high-speed internet service is least likely to be commercially available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for rural people and businesses.

• In Barron County, a $4,342,937.00 grant will be used by CTC Telcom, Inc. to construct a fiber-to-the-premises system to benefit 785 residents and 22 businesses in the area. Subscribers will have access to service up to 10 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, expanding access to economic, educational, health care and public safety opportunities. A community center space will be provided in the Crystal Lake Town Hall where residents can access the Internet free of charge for at least two years.

• In the Burnett and Washburn counties areas, a $4,346,908.00 grant will be used by Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc. to construct a fiber-to-the-premises system to benefit 789 residents and 21 businesses in the area. Subscribers will have access to up to 10 Gbps symmetrical service, expanding access to economic, educational, health care and public safety opportunities. A community center space will be provided in Evergreen Town Hall where residents can access the Internet free of charge for at least two years.

Recipients of Community Connect awards use grant funds to equip community centers that provide free access to high-speed internet service to area residents for at least two years.

In total, the USDA is awarding more than $63.8 million in grants under the Community Connect Program to build high-speed internet networks in rural areas in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. View the full list of projects online.

Since 2021, 2.4 million American homes and small businesses have been connected to high-speed internet for the first time, and the Department has invested more than $4 billion for 345 ReConnect projects that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 600,000 people in the most rural and remote areas of America.

USDA-RD provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA-RD updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.