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Workshop Spreads the Word About Broadband Grant Opportunity

Communities and service providers have about a month to apply for state funds to expand broadband service.

Jill Hietpas, Broadband Outreach Specialist for UW Extension, gave a workshop in Rhinelander Monday to talk about the half-a-million dollars in funds offered through the Public Service Commission. 

Hietpas says money aims to reach areas with little broadband access, and requires that communities partner with service providers.

“It’s something that our state is very interested in expanding broadband access, and this is a grant that is enabling us to do it. It is trying to connect public private entities together to build that connectivity and get better broadband access in our rural communities.”

Service providers, economic development leaders and other stakeholders attended the workshop. 

Paul Osterman, founder of the broadband start up Northwoods Synko, says for his company, grant money would help offset upfront infrastructure costs of delivering broadband in a new way…through wireless transmission. 

“The equipment that we would put on the tower. A lot of times you’ll see cell phone panels on top of the tower – our equipment will be similar to that. And that’s what we’re hoping this grant can provide – is that infrastructure cost to put the equipment on the tower.”

The grant deadline is October 13. 

Similar informational workshops have been held in Dunn and Lafayette counties, with another scheduled for Portage County.  

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