By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Green County projects get grants to expand internet access
63913a.jpg
MADISON - Three projects in Green County are among 46 recently awarded new grants to extend high-speed internet access in Wisconsin, according to a press release from Gov. Scott Walker's office.

Announced Thursday, with $7.68 million in total preliminary awards leveraged to almost $19.5 million in private matching funds. The grants are meant to extend internet access to as many as 1,600 business locations and 18,000 residential locations.

The awards announced Thursday are preliminary and will be finalized upon the issuance of the commission's written decision and the expiration of a 10-day appeal process.

Projects include the build-out of broadband services in some of the most rural areas of the state in an effort to provide a communication infrastructure for Wisconsin's rural families, businesses and tourism industry.

The grant applications approved for use in area counties are:

• Green County Development Corporation, $414,234: This project will build and equip four towers to provide a fixed wireless service in four towns in Green County, along the southern portion at the stateline and the northwest corner east of Blanchardville.

• Vernon Telephone Company LLC/TDS Telecom, $351,857: This project proposes to build a DSL service to 28 service nodes in the vicinity of New Glarus in Green and Dane counties.

• UTELCO LLC/TDS Telecom, $492,915: This project proposes to build a DSL service to 26 service nodes in the vicinity of Monticello in Green County.

Applications for the next round of grants is now open. The deadline for grant applications to be submitted to the PSC is July 16. Further instructions regarding the preparation of an application may be found at the Broadband Expansion Grant webpage, psc.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/BroadbandGrants.aspx.