Vilas County Economic Development Corporation has applied for a state grant to build more fast internet service.
Barry McLeane manages the Corporation's business incubators and sits on their board. He says they've applied to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for part of a half-million dollar pool of grant money. They've forged a public-private partnership as he explains...
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"....one is for up here in the Manitowish Waters area. For that we signed on with CenturyLink. The other is down in the Eagle River area, Cloverland, Phelps and Winchester area and we've signed onto that with Sonic Net...."
The state grants are intended to improve broadband service in under-served areas. He says each Vilas county grant application is for $50,000. McLeane says it's for equipment to deliver the service.....
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"...if these two grants come through it is our vision that we can probably service somewhere in the neighborhood of 83-85 percent of the county. That would be huge...."
McCleane says they hope to hear the decision on the grants sometime in mid-May.
