Several Northwoods communities will have the option of faster internet service in the upcoming months after a recent announcement by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
More than a dozen telecom companies and local economic development agencies could receive a total of $1.5 million under the government grants.
Oneida County Economic Development Corporation received more than $180,000. Executive Director Roger Luce. Luce says the money will provide wireless high speed internet to about 310 square miles within the most rural parts of Oneida county....
".....we're going to utilize seven existing communications towers to provide high speed broadband up to 25 megabits. It's a fixed, wireless service working with Northwoods Communications...."
Luce says many partners helped...
".....the town of Newbold, the town of Crescent, the town of Sugar Camp, Oneida county, Northwoods Connect New Group called Broadband Support Group in the town of Cassian. They will be looking to put up two towers and lease them back to Northwoods Communications...."
...along with other partners.
Iron County Resource Development Association received $79,000. More than $131,000 was allocated to ChoiceTel from Land O' Lakes in Vilas county and $92,000 to Wittenberg Telephone Company for the Village of White Lake in Langlade county.
The report indicates the average download speed for Wisconsin was 25 megabits per second, compared with 54 for the national average.
