Gov. Evers Urges Trump Administration to Prevent Delays in Funding for High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Projects Across Wisconsin

I write today to underscore the importance of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to Wisconsin. Our state has already spent tremendous time and effort to achieve the shared goals of the BEAD Program. I urge NTIA not to delay our states’ efforts at this final, critical stage, but to use the program review to create efficiencies that will accelerate broadband deployment to unserved Wisconsin residents. Importantly, these investments are critical for Wisconsin, most especially as the Wisconsin State Legislature during the last biennial budget process approved zero new state dollars to expand high-speed internet in our state. The Legislature declined to approve my proposed $750 million state investment, citing federal investments Wisconsin expected to receive, BEAD investments primary among them. Failing to receive these investments in a timely fashion will slow my administration’s efforts toward getting Wisconsinites connected to high-speed internet. We cannot afford to stall our progress. In Wisconsin, we have worked closely with industry leaders, engaged local governments and economic development organizations in planning and design, and completed the state challenge processes and the first round of BEAD subgranting. Wisconsin had robust participation, with over 95 percent of Wisconsin’s 206,000 BEAD-eligible locations receiving at least one application in the first round. NTIA has already approved our initial proposals, project budget, and our challenge results. Wisconsin is not alone: across the country, 40 states and territories are already reviewing and accepting applications for BEAD projects. NTIA should not make any changes that will slow down our states’ already-approved program plans and the tremendous progress we have made in implementing those plans.