Keeping the New North Connected
New North, Inc. is leading the way in bringing high-speed broadband Internet coverage to residents and businesses throughout the region. And as the data shows, having access to that coverage is good news for the region’s economy.
New North currently works with counties in the region, preparing them to be ready once the Wisconsin Public Service Commission announces its plans to accept grant requests through the BEAD (Broadband Equity And Deployment) program to improve broadband coverage. Wisconsin has $1.05 billion to spend as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Package.
After the law was passed, it became clear that counties would benefit more from working together — not only through shared knowledge but also in increased grant amounts to plan for BEAD. At the New North, we created the New North Broadband Alliance in May 2023. Since then, county representatives have met monthly with New North along with the PSC to prepare for the release of the BEAD grants.
It is vital to get as many people and businesses connected to broadband Internet as possible. If you ask real estate agents, they will tell you prospective buyers want to know if a home has high-speed internet. Talk to business owners and they will tell you high-speed internet is a must if they’re looking to locate in a specific area. Broadband is no longer a nice-to-have amenity, it’s a necessity.
The University of Wisconsin Extension conducted a study showing the important role broadband plays in community and economic well-being. Broadband access is linked to better business performance, including rural entrepreneurship and farm profits, higher home values, higher educational outcomes in K-12 school systems, and improved health outcomes, which can lead to higher worker productivity.
The Alliance’s mission is to provide all New North residents with access to broadband internet capable with 100 GB download speeds. While we are well prepared for the release of BEAD grant applications, it took a lot of work to get us to this spot. In addition to Alliance representatives meeting monthly, New North has met with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to discuss the best path forward to expanding broadband coverage and created detailed maps showing gaps in coverage.
The Alliance also convened a readiness workshop using a draft of the rubric the PSC will use when awarding the BEAD dollars. The New North wants everyone involved to be as prepared as possible when the PSC announces it’s ready to receive grant requests. Once the PSC begins receiving requests, it has 365 days to award its grant dollars and we want as much funding as possible to come flowing into the region.
The work on the BEAD grants is a continuation of New North’s commitment to expand broadband coverage. As part of the EDA funding, which was part of the CARES Act in 2020, New North conducted a Broadband Access Study and Expansion Plan for the region’s 18 counties. The completed study showed gaps in broadband coverage and outlined a series of steps to improve connectivity throughout the region.
New North remains committed to improving access to broadband Internet to homes and businesses across the region, creating increased connectivity to benefit our communities, residents and businesses.
To learn more about the New North’s broadband initiatives, click here or contact Barbara Koldos at barbara.koldos@thenewnorth.com.
Barbara Koldos is vice president of business development for New North, Inc., and is a member of the Governor’s Taskforce on Broadband.
Barbara Koldos
Vice President, Business Development
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