When I talk with business owners, entrepreneurs and economic development groups, I hear firsthand how important access to affordable high-speed Internet is to their survival. In areas stuck with dial-up or spotty satellite coverage, existing businesses have trouble expanding their customer base, entrepreneurs tend to move to areas with affordable high-speed Internet, and as a result, rural communities experience slowed job growth and sluggish economic development.
In an effort to provide targeted and long-term economic growth to rural areas, the federal government has made a commitment to help states increase access to affordable high-speed Internet (broadband). As a part of the federal stimulus package, President Obama provided $7.2 billion to support broadband infrastructure projects, and since that announcement, local and state players have been working hard to secure grant dollars for projects in Southwest Wisconsin.
Right now, the University of Wisconsin is partnering with the Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WiscNet) to establish a statewide broadband grid along major Wisconsin highways, establishing a widely available network that rural communities can link onto. Their plan (titled "Go Gig") will establish a core broadband backbone, from which service can be extended to rural communities, schools, libraries, industrial parks, city departments, and eventually to individual homes.
Not only will Go Gig meet the advanced broadband network needs of the state, it will provide good-paying jobs for network designers, builders, equipment manufacturers, and software developers. This is the type of stimulus we need: Bringing jobs to local communities and helping the region improve its overall economic vitality in the long run.
As the University of Wisconsin and WiscNet tackle this first step, public and private sector leaders in Southwest Wisconsin already are working to secure phase two funding. The second phase of funding, called the "Middle Mile," is about connecting rural communities to the larger statewide grid and providing broadband to individual customers. Local groups like Building Economic Strength Together (BEST) are working with public and private organizations in Platteville and Darlington to build community area networks and capture grants for local broadband expansion.
It's clear that building these communities area networks, as well as providing broadband to schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, will create local jobs and give our entrepreneurs and businesses the resources they need to grow and compete in a global marketplace. As Larry Ward, executive director of the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, emphasizes, "With access to broadband, I firmly believe more entrepreneurs will take a chance, more businesses will be able to retain employees, and more businesses will be able to expand."
Community leaders in Platteville are teaming up with WiscNet, BEST and UW-Platteville in an effort to establish a Platteville Community Area Network and connect community anchor institutions (i.e. schools, hospitals, colleges, public safety agencies, etc.) and individual customers to a locally owned network. The goal of the group is to have the Platteville Network shovel-ready by this fall so they can apply for federal funding.
Platteville is a great example of what local communities have to do to make themselves competitive in bringing in federal funding. We have to continue developing public-private partnerships consisting of telecommunication providers, local governments, economic development organizations, and educational institutions if we are going to meet the advanced broadband needs of the region and provide the rapid economic stimulus necessary to spur sustainable growth. These partnerships are critical in developing expansion projects that will quality for federal funding and increase access to affordable high-speed Internet in Southwest Wisconsin. I plan to continue working with public and private-sector leaders to establish these partnerships and put us in the best possible position for targeted economic growth.
- Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, represents almost all of Iowa and Lafayette counties, the southern portion of Sauk County and the southeast corner of Richland County in the Wisconsin Assembly. He can be reached by calling toll free (888) 534-0051 or e-mail rep.hilgenberg@legis.wi.gov or regular mail PO BOX 8952, Madison, WI, 53708.
In an effort to provide targeted and long-term economic growth to rural areas, the federal government has made a commitment to help states increase access to affordable high-speed Internet (broadband). As a part of the federal stimulus package, President Obama provided $7.2 billion to support broadband infrastructure projects, and since that announcement, local and state players have been working hard to secure grant dollars for projects in Southwest Wisconsin.
Right now, the University of Wisconsin is partnering with the Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WiscNet) to establish a statewide broadband grid along major Wisconsin highways, establishing a widely available network that rural communities can link onto. Their plan (titled "Go Gig") will establish a core broadband backbone, from which service can be extended to rural communities, schools, libraries, industrial parks, city departments, and eventually to individual homes.
Not only will Go Gig meet the advanced broadband network needs of the state, it will provide good-paying jobs for network designers, builders, equipment manufacturers, and software developers. This is the type of stimulus we need: Bringing jobs to local communities and helping the region improve its overall economic vitality in the long run.
As the University of Wisconsin and WiscNet tackle this first step, public and private sector leaders in Southwest Wisconsin already are working to secure phase two funding. The second phase of funding, called the "Middle Mile," is about connecting rural communities to the larger statewide grid and providing broadband to individual customers. Local groups like Building Economic Strength Together (BEST) are working with public and private organizations in Platteville and Darlington to build community area networks and capture grants for local broadband expansion.
It's clear that building these communities area networks, as well as providing broadband to schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, will create local jobs and give our entrepreneurs and businesses the resources they need to grow and compete in a global marketplace. As Larry Ward, executive director of the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, emphasizes, "With access to broadband, I firmly believe more entrepreneurs will take a chance, more businesses will be able to retain employees, and more businesses will be able to expand."
Community leaders in Platteville are teaming up with WiscNet, BEST and UW-Platteville in an effort to establish a Platteville Community Area Network and connect community anchor institutions (i.e. schools, hospitals, colleges, public safety agencies, etc.) and individual customers to a locally owned network. The goal of the group is to have the Platteville Network shovel-ready by this fall so they can apply for federal funding.
Platteville is a great example of what local communities have to do to make themselves competitive in bringing in federal funding. We have to continue developing public-private partnerships consisting of telecommunication providers, local governments, economic development organizations, and educational institutions if we are going to meet the advanced broadband needs of the region and provide the rapid economic stimulus necessary to spur sustainable growth. These partnerships are critical in developing expansion projects that will quality for federal funding and increase access to affordable high-speed Internet in Southwest Wisconsin. I plan to continue working with public and private-sector leaders to establish these partnerships and put us in the best possible position for targeted economic growth.
- Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, represents almost all of Iowa and Lafayette counties, the southern portion of Sauk County and the southeast corner of Richland County in the Wisconsin Assembly. He can be reached by calling toll free (888) 534-0051 or e-mail rep.hilgenberg@legis.wi.gov or regular mail PO BOX 8952, Madison, WI, 53708.
