Residents and business owners have the opportunity to make their voice heard to state policy makers about their need for improved internet access via a demand survey.
The Wisconsin State Broadband Office released the survey last week. It comes on the heels of the Broadband Expansion Grant Governor Scott Walker created in 2013. The program was awarded 2.4 million dollars and leveraged 3.9 million dollars in additional private investment.
Communications and Legislative Director for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Elise Nelson says the survey measures consumer views on broadband availability and will map locations where there is demand.
“…specifically, the residential survey collects information on geographic location, current internet connection or lack thereof, how many devices access that connection, anecdotal information on personal experience with internet providers and whether the address is the home of a telecommuter or a student.”
Nelson says the business survey collects the same information along with the kind of business using the internet and how many employees need it.
She says the survey is available until November 23 and is accessible from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin website.
The PSC held statewide workshops earlier this year on how to apply for the broadband expansion grant. The application period closed June 16 and commissioners are considering 37 applications requesting 3.8 million dollars.
