2/26/18Greetings all,
There has been quite a bit in the news regarding broadband over the last month or so. This is a brief (and overdue) update on a few of recent items. A special thanks to Eric Turner, Dunn County EDC, for sharing some of the following. I will be in touch in mid-March to get our next regional group meeting scheduled.
Opportunity to Support SB844, SB845, SB846, & SB847
Sen. Vinehout and others have sponsored some potentially very important bills dealing with broadband expansion that have been moved to the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Elections and Utilities. These are Senate Bills SB844, SB 845, 846, and 847. You may view the bills at:
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sb844.pdf (allows municipality to require installation of "dark fiber"/conduit)
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sb845.pdf (changes to how local municipalities may construct/operate telecommunications facilities and changes to the PSC grant program)
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sb846.pdf (sets min. consistent speeds of 25MB/3MB for the sale of a service advertised as broadband)
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sb847.pdf (additional changes to the PSC Broadband Expansion Grant Program, local government telecomm facilities, and a tax credit change)
Another proposed bill (SB 756), proposes to create a Telecommuter Forward! community certification program:
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sb756
Take some time, read the bills and contact you State representatives with your opinions.
Governor Walker "Opted In" to FirstNet on 12/15/17 https://www.firstnet.gov/news/wisconsin-transform-communications-public-safety
Polk County Working Towards "Broadband Forward!" Certification The Polk County Board of Supervisors recently approved an ordinance that streamlines processes and reduces costs for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who want to extend fiber optic cable to parts of our county where service has been lacking. The County is now applying for Broadband Forward! certification from the PSC. More on this State program is available here: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/BroadbandForward.aspx
Dunn County Broadband Study Complete The County's Gap Analysis, Assessment Survey, and a very nice, related presentation from earlier this month is available online at:
http://www.co.dunn.wi.us/index.asp?SEC=3E340B51-2E90-4E72-88DD-5CA858A77A75&DE=C99A3C8B-37A3-4BB8-A8A5-E1C8F0402C5E&Type=B_EV
Packerland Teams Up with Microsoft to Expand Rural Broadband
This effort is expected to expand broadband to abt 82,000 people in Wisconsin and Michigan's UP, including parts of Chippewa, Clark, and Eau Claire counties. https://news.microsoft.com/2018/02/25/packerland-broadband-and-microsoft-announce-agreement-to-deliver-broadband-internet-to-rural-communities-in-wisconsin-and-michigan/
State Legislature Exploring Alternative Technologies This article covers some efforts going on at the State level regarding alternative broadband technologies, such as the use of TV white space.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/tom-still-continued-progress-on-wisconsin-broadband-will-require-mix/article_92ff591e-8c65-569a-8fa0-cc2336bef466.html
Invite Others to Join Us
Share the following link to invite others to join this MailChimp mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/cRignH
For more information about the Region 3 Broadband Implementation Group,
contact Chris Straight, WCWRPC at ch...@wcwrpc.org | 
