Large parts of Wisconsin may lose out on the federal broadband stimulus funds because few citizens have responded to a statewide survey aimed at identifying which areas don't have broadband service. As of April 16, the Public Service Commission, which is conducting the survey, had heard from about 3,900 citizens and businesses representing 85,000 employees. Two-thirds of respondents reported not having access to high-speed Internet service. The PSC plans to use the survey results to advise the federal government on which local governments and service providers should get stimulus funds, said PSC telecommunications administrator Gary Evenson. "We'd like to get responses from everyone," Evenson said. "The more responses we get the better." State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said he has fielded hundreds of complaints from constituents who still can't get connected. "I've got kids who can't access the Internet to do their homework," Schultz said. "That's intolerable." Schultz urged residents to respond to the PSC survey, which will be available at least until summer. "Our future depends on us being able to access the global marketplace," Schultz said. "We don't want to be on the wrong side of the digital divide."
I live in the northwoods without broadband and needed satellite. NO DSL or cable. Of course streaming video is terrible and VPN is not compatible with the satellite latency. How was this survey distributed or publicized? With Verizon pulling out of Wisconsin, transitioning to Frontier is not promising, with many delays during that time. With all the advertising announcing the switch to digital TV, not one ad is seen regarding this survey. It has the appearance of doing something, but the real intent is to do as little as possible and just make it fade away. Legislators are the leaders to make this happen, it is their responsibility. Passing the buck to the citizens to speak up if they want broadband, then saying you had your chance is not governing for the people. Did the states citzens get to review online the budget bill that was just passed? The state is requiring ALL businesses to begin filing electronically, but they do not determine if high speed is available. I wonder how many times I would be kicked off the website trying to complete the paperwork. How our legislators and governor are handling this is disgraceful.
Of course with the 1000 foot DNR embargo around our lakes, approval to put in cable or fiber optic probably will not happen by the time environmental impact studies are completed. That is another story of uncontrolled rule.
I live in the northwoods without broadband and needed satellite. NO DSL or cable. Of course streaming video is terrible and VPN is not compatible with the satellite latency. How was this survey distributed or publicized? With Verizon pulling out of Wisconsin, transitioning to Frontier is not promising, with many delays during that time. With all the advertising announcing the switch to digital TV, not one ad is seen regarding this survey. It has the appearance of doing something, but the real intent is to do as little as possible and just make it fade away. Legislators are the leaders to make this happen, it is their responsibility. Passing the buck to the citizens to speak up if they want broadband, then saying you had your chance is not governing for the people. Did the states citzens get to review online the budget bill that was just passed? The state is requiring ALL businesses to begin filing electronically, but they do not determine if high speed is available. I wonder how many times I would be kicked off the website trying to complete the paperwork. How our legislators and governor are handling this is disgraceful.
Of course with the 1000 foot DNR embargo around our lakes, approval to put in cable or fiber optic probably will not happen by the time environmental impact studies are completed. That is another story of uncontrolled rule.