Governor Doyle, U.S. Commerce Official Announce Nearly $29 Million for Broadband Investments
[The following is a press release from Gov. Jim Doyle's office. It is published here in its entirety as received and as an information and/or news piece.]
GREEN BAY – Governor Jim Doyle and U.S. Deputy Commerce Secretary Dennis Hightower today announced Wisconsin will invest $28.7 million to expand broadband Internet access, including $22.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The grant will provide high-speed Internet access to 467 sites in over 380 communities in all the state’s 72 counties.
“High-speed Internet access is critical to the success of our state’s entrepreneurs, businesses, students and families,” Governor Doyle said. “This project will create jobs to lay and install fiber cable, for telecommunications contractors and technicians, and in fields like construction, manufacturing, masonry and electrical wiring. Through the Recovery Act, the Obama Administration is making major investments in Wisconsin ’s broadband infrastructure to help our schools and libraries access high-speed Internet.”
Wisconsin is receiving one of several national Recovery Act grants for broadband development. The state’s project will expand broadband Internet access to 74 schools, eight post-secondary schools including two tribal colleges, and 385 libraries. 84 percent of the school districts and colleges receiving the grant are in rural areas. Over 200 miles of fiber optic cable will be installed and more than $10 million will be spent on American-made telecommunications equipment and materials.
Extending fiber to the 467 sites will allow for future expansion of broadband throughout the state.
90 percent of sites are within five miles of a police station and 88 percent of sites are within five miles of a fire station, which has the potential to improve communication and coordination during disaster situations;
Over 90 percent of the sites are within 20 miles of the nearest hospital, which may be useful in improving the integration and sharing of electronic medical records; and
Over 125,000 households are within the market area of these sites, helping families gain access to broadband.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration will administer the grant, which will provide fiber connections to all schools and libraries on the BadgerNet Converged Network served by the BadgerNet Alliance. Over 90 percent of the libraries in the state and over 80 percent of the state’s school districts will be served by the BadgerNet Converged Network, which partners with independent telecommunication companies across the state. To view a list of schools and libraries that will benefit from this grant, please visit http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=19044&locid=19.
The state will invest $5.7 million in matching funds from the Technology for Education Achievement (TEACH) program for $28.7 million in total investment.
Governor Doyle and Deputy Secretary Hightower were joined by Congressman Steve Kagen for the announcement at the Brown County Library in Green Bay . Governor Doyle thanked the Obama Administration, Congressman Dave Obey, and Wisconsin ’s Congressional Delegation for making the major investment in Wisconsin ’s infrastructure.
Governor Doyle has led efforts to expand broadband infrastructure to all people in Wisconsin . In 2004, the Governor launched a major effort to increase broadband access in his Grow Wisconsin plan. To help businesses and families in the Northwoods and throughout the state, in 2007 Governor Doyle provided $7.5 million in sales tax exemptions and tax credits for the purchase of Internet equipment used in the broadband market. As a result of those efforts, in its first year, nine companies invested more than $13 million to expand broadband to 186 communities. In November 2009, Wisconsin received $1.7 million in Recovery Act funding to map broadband access and identify areas of need.
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of President Obama signing legislation to create the Recovery Act, which has helped states deal with the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression by creating and retaining jobs and investing in long-term economic growth. In Wisconsin , the Recovery Act has been credited with creating or retaining more than 44,000 jobs. Wisconsin has overseen nearly $982 million in Recovery Act expenditures, including major road construction and water infrastructure projects and a new high speed rail line that will create thousands of jobs and benefit the state’s economy for generations.
GREEN BAY – Governor Jim Doyle and U.S. Deputy Commerce Secretary Dennis Hightower today announced Wisconsin will invest $28.7 million to expand broadband Internet access, including $22.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The grant will provide high-speed Internet access to 467 sites in over 380 communities in all the state’s 72 counties.
“High-speed Internet access is critical to the success of our state’s entrepreneurs, businesses, students and families,” Governor Doyle said. “This project will create jobs to lay and install fiber cable, for telecommunications contractors and technicians, and in fields like construction, manufacturing, masonry and electrical wiring. Through the Recovery Act, the Obama Administration is making major investments in Wisconsin ’s broadband infrastructure to help our schools and libraries access high-speed Internet.”
Wisconsin is receiving one of several national Recovery Act grants for broadband development. The state’s project will expand broadband Internet access to 74 schools, eight post-secondary schools including two tribal colleges, and 385 libraries. 84 percent of the school districts and colleges receiving the grant are in rural areas. Over 200 miles of fiber optic cable will be installed and more than $10 million will be spent on American-made telecommunications equipment and materials.
Extending fiber to the 467 sites will allow for future expansion of broadband throughout the state.
90 percent of sites are within five miles of a police station and 88 percent of sites are within five miles of a fire station, which has the potential to improve communication and coordination during disaster situations;
Over 90 percent of the sites are within 20 miles of the nearest hospital, which may be useful in improving the integration and sharing of electronic medical records; and
Over 125,000 households are within the market area of these sites, helping families gain access to broadband.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration will administer the grant, which will provide fiber connections to all schools and libraries on the BadgerNet Converged Network served by the BadgerNet Alliance. Over 90 percent of the libraries in the state and over 80 percent of the state’s school districts will be served by the BadgerNet Converged Network, which partners with independent telecommunication companies across the state. To view a list of schools and libraries that will benefit from this grant, please visit http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=19044&locid=19.
The state will invest $5.7 million in matching funds from the Technology for Education Achievement (TEACH) program for $28.7 million in total investment.
Governor Doyle and Deputy Secretary Hightower were joined by Congressman Steve Kagen for the announcement at the Brown County Library in Green Bay . Governor Doyle thanked the Obama Administration, Congressman Dave Obey, and Wisconsin ’s Congressional Delegation for making the major investment in Wisconsin ’s infrastructure.
Governor Doyle has led efforts to expand broadband infrastructure to all people in Wisconsin . In 2004, the Governor launched a major effort to increase broadband access in his Grow Wisconsin plan. To help businesses and families in the Northwoods and throughout the state, in 2007 Governor Doyle provided $7.5 million in sales tax exemptions and tax credits for the purchase of Internet equipment used in the broadband market. As a result of those efforts, in its first year, nine companies invested more than $13 million to expand broadband to 186 communities. In November 2009, Wisconsin received $1.7 million in Recovery Act funding to map broadband access and identify areas of need.
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of President Obama signing legislation to create the Recovery Act, which has helped states deal with the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression by creating and retaining jobs and investing in long-term economic growth. In Wisconsin , the Recovery Act has been credited with creating or retaining more than 44,000 jobs. Wisconsin has overseen nearly $982 million in Recovery Act expenditures, including major road construction and water infrastructure projects and a new high speed rail line that will create thousands of jobs and benefit the state’s economy for generations.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 10:30 PM
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