MADISON — The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced Aug. 14 the Broadband Infrastructure Program grant round is now open. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. Department of Treasury awarded Wisconsin $42 million through the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) to administer the Broadband Infrastructure Program and invest in broadband construction and deployment that will provide high-quality internet to locations that lack access to adequate, affordable service.

“We have come a long way to connect more homes and businesses to affordable, reliable internet service since the beginning of the pandemic, but barriers still exist for many in our state,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program supports the Evers Administration’s ongoing work by investing in projects that improve access to high-speed internet for communities that were most impacted by the pandemic.”

The CPF is designed to address the barriers to internet access that existed before, but were made worse by, the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadband Infrastructure Program grant funds will be used to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure designed to provide consistent, reliable, and high-performance broadband service to areas most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday Nov. 7, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. More information on the Capital Projects Fund can be found on the Capital Projects Broadband page on the PSC website.