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Marklein Announces Broadband Expansion Grant Application Now Open
$24 Million in Rural Broadband Grants open for application through December 19, 2019
 

Madison, WI – Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) today announced that the Public Service Commission (PSC) has opened the application for the next round for Rural Broadband Expansion Grants. Applications are due by December 19, 2019.
 
“The legislature invested $48 million in Rural Broadband Expansion Grants during the last budget,” Marklein said. “I was very proud to lead this effort to find the funds and dedicate them to one of the biggest needs in our communities.”
 
“The application for $24 million of these funds is now open,” Marklein said. “I know that there are communities and leaders in our cities, towns and villages who are working on projects that will qualify. I hope that we have a number of applications from the 17th Senate District this cycle.”
 
Grant Application materials are available on the PSC website: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/BroadbandGrants.aspx
 
The criteria for the grants has not changed since Sen. Marklein led legislation to focus the grant program during the last session. Grants will be distributed to underserved and unserved areas of Wisconsin to public-private partnerships to provide reasonable, improved broadband service.
 
“I will continue to seek ways to encourage and support expansion of broadband technology to rural Wisconsin,” Marklein said. “This major investment is just one more way we are working hard to reach more people who need connection.”
 
“Just today, I also testified on Senate Bill (SB) 321 and Assembly Bill (AB) 344, which would create a property tax exemption for broadband infrastructure in underserved, rural Wisconsin. It is just one more way we are incentivizing investment and efforts to reach the last mile,” Marklein said.
 
“Telecommunications companies of all sizes, especially smaller companies in rural Wisconsin, are doing the right thing. They are making investments. As a state, we need to support their efforts and clear the way to encourage expansion.”