PSC Awards $58 Million for Broadband Expansion

Grants fund 46 projects expected to bring high-speed internet to more than 18,000 Wisconsin locations.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Telecommunications

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a cable spool on a field edge beneath birch trees and a distant silo, evoking rural broadband expansion. — The Wisconsin Public Service Commission awarded nearly $58 million to 46 projects expected to bring high-speed internet to more than 18,000 locations statewide. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the state keep funding high-speed internet expansion in unserved areas?

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin awarded nearly $58 million through the State Broadband Expansion Grant Program to 46 projects. The funding will provide new or improved high-speed internet to more than 428,000 homes and businesses statewide.

Why it matters

The PSC received requests exceeding available funds by $100 million, and the Wisconsin Broadband Office estimates at least 30,000 locations remain unserved. The grant round targets areas not covered by the BEAD program, aiming to close remaining gaps in service.

Funded projects deploy fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure to locations identified through the Broadband Serviceable Location nationwide dataset, targeting areas lacking speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Whether the next Legislature will authorize additional funds for future rounds remains unknown.

The players

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

The state agency that administers utility regulation and awarded the broadband expansion grants.

Evers administration

The administration of Governor Tony Evers, which has pursued statewide broadband expansion since 2019.

The details

The grants were awarded through the State Broadband Expansion Grant Program, with the PSC announcing the awards Thursday morning in Madison. The Evers administration has pursued expanded high-speed internet access since 2019.

Since 2019: Evers administration begins efforts to expand high-speed internet access across Wisconsin.
May 2026: The PSC receives 93 applications requesting more than $160 million.
November 5, 2026: The PSC awards nearly $58 million in grants.

Roadmap

The state grants target locations outside the federal BEAD program, which is the primary federal framework for broadband deployment. Strand said this is likely the last round of state broadband expansion grants unless the next Legislature authorizes additional funds.

Residents in unserved areas may gain access to new or improved high-speed internet through funded fiber and fixed wireless projects. Locations not reached by these projects will remain without the improved service until additional funding is authorized.

The takeaway

Broadband funding requests in Wisconsin far exceed available grants, indicating that unserved locations will likely persist without further state or federal investment.