>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> BROADBAND INTERNET GETS A
BOUNCE THIS WEEK.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS COMMITS $100
MILLION IN FEDERAL RECOVERY
MONEY TO UPGRADE INTERNET
SERVICE STATEWIDE.
AND THE MASKS COME OFF.
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL MASK
RESTRICTIONS ARE LOOSENED OR
LIFTED ALTOGETHER AS
WISCONSINITES WIGGLE FREE FROM
THE GRASP OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC
SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE FUTURE OF
BROADBAND IN WISCONSIN.
A GREEN BAY PHYSICIAN CONSIDERS
WHAT THE NEW NORMAL IS SHAPING
UP TO BE.
AND A STATE ECONOMIST SPEAKS TO
THE STATE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY
DURING PANDEMIC RECOVERY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 21.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IF THERE'S ONE LESSON THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US,
IT'S THAT ACCESS TO QUALITY
INTERNET SERVICE CAN MAKE ALL
THE DIFFERENCE, FOR STUDENTS
ATTENDING VIRTUAL SCHOOL,
EMPLOYEES WORKING REMOTELY OR
PATIENTS LOOKING TO ACCESS
MEDICAL TREATMENT ONLINE.
THERE ARE STILL LARGE SECTIONS
OF THE STATE WHERE BROADBAND IS
NOT AVAILABLE.
BUT THAT'S CHANGING AGOING AS THE STATE
LOOKS TO INVEST HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS INTO BROADBAND
EXPANSION.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
SCHULTZ HAS THE STORY.
>> THE TOWN OF BOULDER JUNCTION
IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN IS BUILT
AROUND TOURISM.
THE LATEST INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT WON'T MAKE THE AREA ANY
MORE BEAUTIFUL.
>> AS YOU DRIVE AROUND THE
COUNTRYSIDE, YOU SEE THIS ORANGE
TUBE.
>> BUT IT WILL MAKE IT MORE
ATTRACTIVE.
>> THE ORANGE TUBE IS CONDUIT,
AND IT PROTECTS THE FIBEROPTIC
CABLE.
>> BILL NIEMUTH IS PART OF A
GROUP OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE
SPENT YEARS WORKING TO BRING
FIBEROPTIC CABLE AND HIGH-SPEED
BROADBAND TO EVERY DOOR IN TOWN.
HE SAYS IT MEANS INSTEAD OF
TOURISTS COMING AND GOING IT
WILL MEAN VACATIONERS TURNING
INTO RESIDENTS.
>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE,
I'LL CALL IT A TRANSFORMATION IN
THE ECONOMY.
AND SO BOULDER JUNCTION IS A
MICROCOSM OF WHAT'S GOING ON
RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
>> EXPANDING BROADBAND ACROSS
WISCONSIN HAS BECOME ONE OF THE
FEW BIPARTISAN TALKING POINTS IN
WISCONSIN'S BUDGET PROCESS.
>> I'M EXCITED TO DECLARE 2021
THE YEAR OF BROADBAND ACCESS.
>> IN JANUARY, GOVERNOR EVERS
CALLED FOR THE STATE TO INVEST
$200 MILLION IN BROADBAND.
THIS WEEK, EVERS ANNOUNCED HE
WOULD USE $100 MILLION FROM THE
FIRST ROUND OF FEDERAL COVID
RELIEF FUNDS ON BROADBAND
EXPANSION GRANTS.
>> AND NOW THE DEBATE CENTERS
AROUND HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD THE
STATE INVEST AND WHERE SHOULD
THE MONEY COME FROM.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET THE
FEDERAL MONEY.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A LARGE SUM
OF IT.
IT COULD GO A LONG WAY.
>> REPUBLICANS LIKE
REPRESENTATIVE TONY KURTZ SAY
THEY WANT THE GOVERNOR TO USE
FEDERAL FUNDS FIRST SO THE STATE
CAN INVEST ITS MONEY ELSEWHERE.
THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL IN
APRIL THAT WOULD HAVE MANDATED
THE GOVERNOR TO USE $500 BILLION
IN FEDERAL FUNDS ON BROADBAND.
>> IT WOULD BE VERY PRUDENT ON
US TO USE THE FEDERAL MONEY
WHERE WE KNOW WE CAN USE IT.
>> THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT
BILL, SAYING BROADBAND SHOULD
INCLUDE STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDING.
DEMOCRATS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE
GRETA NEUBAUER SAY THE STATE
NEEDS TO THINK BIG, COMPARING
BROADBAND EXPANSION TO THE RURAL
ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT OF THE
190s.
>> JUST LIKE ELECTRIFICATION IT
WILL OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF
WHERE THEY LIVE <!0> HAVE ACCESS
TO THIS BASIC AND ESSENTIAL
SERVICE.
>> AS THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES
TO DEBATE HOW MUCH THE STATE
SHOULD INVEST, WE WANTED TO LOOK
AT WHAT BROADBAND EXPANSION
ACTUALLY MEANS, WHERE IT'S
ALREADY HAPPENING, AND WHO
STANDS TO GAIN.
>> DEMAND FOR INCREASED
BROADBAND SERVICES WAS ALREADY
THERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
>> KRISTI KNEE TOE WORKS AT THE
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND
WORKS ON GRANTS.
THE PSC HAS AWARDED MORE THAN
$70 MILLION IN GRANTS SINCE 2014
TO EXPAND BROADBAND ALL OVER THE
STATE, WITH MOST OF THAT MONEY
COMING IN JUST THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
NIETO SAYS MORE PROJECTS ARE
WAITING FOR FUNDING.
>> WE JUST HAVE MORE EXCELLENT,
VIABLE PROJECTS THAN WE HAVE
FUNDS.
>> NOT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS
INCLUDE FIBER BEING INSTALLED AT
THE HOUSE.
WISCONSIN'S GEOGRAPHY MEANS SOME
AREAS ARE BETTER SERVED WITH A
TOWER BLASTING OUT A SIGNAL.
>> THE GRANT PROGRAM ITSELF IS
TECHNOLOGY NN NEUTRAL.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE WHERE
THEY DIFFER.
BUT IT'S NOT THE LAST.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE 1930s AND THE
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ACT AND
WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND TODAY.
>> SHANNON CLARK IS CEO OF
RICHLAND COLLECTIVE COOPERATIVE,
FORMED TO BRING ELECTRICITY TO
FARMERS IN THE HILLY AREA OF
SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.
HE SAYS 100 YEARS AGO, PUTTING
UP POLES AND RUNNING LINES WAS
FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND
EVERYONE WANTED ELECTRICITY.
>> WE STILL FIND EVEN IN
BROADBAND PARTICULARLY IN THE
RURAL AREAS YOU DON'T HAVE A
100% TAKE RATE.
THERE'S 3.4 CONSUMERS PER LINE.
WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT TWO OF
THEM ACTUALLY SAYING, YES, I
WANT TO CONNECT.
>> ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONE
COOPERATIVES ARE ACTUALLY GREAT
MODELS FOR EXPANDING BROADBAND
BECAUSE THEY WERE FORMED TO
SERVE AS RURAL AREAS WHERE THE
BIG COMPANIES DIDN'T ENVISION
ENOUGH PROFIT TO BOTHER
EXPANDING.
>> THE REAL CHALLENGE FOR
BROADBAND IN RURAL AREAS IS THE
CAPITAL EXPENSE ON THE FRONT
END.
THAT IS THE LION'S SHARE OF WHAT
IT IS.
>> THAT'S WHY STATE AND FEDERAL
GRANTS ARE CRITICAL TO
EXPANSION.
IF THEY PAY FOR THE
INSTALLATION, THE SERVICE
PROVIDER DOESN'T NEED TO RECOUP
THOSE INVESTMENTS THROUGH HIGHER
RATES, MAKING BROADBAND MORE
AFFORDABLE.
BUT NOT ALL GRANTS ARE THE SAME.
SOME OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS
ROLLED OUT OVER THE YEARS JUST
WENT TO THE LOWEST BIDDER.
>> AND ALL OF THOSE HAVE HAD THE
PROMISE AT THE END THAT WE WOULD
HAVE RURAL BROADBAND WIDELY
DEPLOYED.
TO DATE, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS WHOLE
PROCESS OF PUTTING IN FIBEROPTIC
HAS BEEN DISORGANIZED AND
HAPHAZARD.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN CHARGE OF
IT.
MAYBE NOBODY.
>> WHEN DAVE AND HIS WIFE MOVED
TO RURAL RICHLAND COUNTY, THEY
DIDN'T MISS THE INTERNET.
>> IF THE INTERNET HAD NEVER
COME ALONG, WE WOULD BE
PERFECTLY FINE.
IT'S PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE NOW
AND YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO
GET ONBOARD.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO YET.
>> GRANT PROGRAMS PAID FOR TWO
DIFFERENT NEARBY BROADBAND
PROJECTS, ONE ON A CELL TOWER
AND ONE INSTALLED ON A SILO.
BUT NEITHER CAN REACH HIS
VALLEY.
>> IN ORDER TO ACCESS THOSE
ANTENNAS, YOU NEED TO HAVE A
DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE WE'RE DOWN HERE IN A
VALLEY WITH STEEP HILLSIDES.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN
THE LIBRARY, HE WOULD DRIVE INTO
TOWN TO USE ITS INTERNET AND ON
THE WAY HE'D PASS A BILLBOARD
ADVERTISING TELEHEALTH.
>> YOU NEED A DECENT INTERNET
CONNECTION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> THE COOPERATIVE RECENTLY
PLEDGED TO BRING FIBER TO HIS
DOOR, YET ANOTHER BROADBAND
EXPANSION FOR HIS CORNER OF THE
STATE.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MONEY
COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK FROM
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOURCES,
BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS WHO'S
COORDINATING ALL OF THIS.
>> SOME OF THE FEDERAL PROJECTS
WILL TAKE YEARS TO COME ONLINE,
WHICH MEANS THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION NEEDS TO MAP THOSE
PROJECTS ALONG WITH THEIR OWN
GRANTS.
>> TRYING TO ANTICIPATE WHEN
THOSE WILL ACTUALLY BE BUILT AND
IN WHAT ORDER AND WHERE AND THEN
LAYERING IN OUR OWN STATE GRANT
PROGRAM AND PROJECTS.
>> NIETO SAYS STATE GRAPTS ARE
DIFFERENT.
THE STATE DOESN'T PAY ANY MONEY
UNTIL THE WORK IT COMPLETE.
>> THESE ARE TWO-YEAR-LONG
PROJECT BUILDOUTS AND THE
PROVIDER RECEIVES REIMBURSEMENT
ONCE THE WORK IS DONE.
>> THE STATE REQUIRES A LOCAL
SPONSOR, USUALLY A SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR VILLAGE, TO PUT UP
MATCHING FUNDS, WHICH MEANS THE
COMMUNITY IS HEAVILY INVESTED AS
WELL.
>> IT'S THE SUPPORT OF THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
>> BILL NIEMUTH SAYS THE TOWN OF
BOULDER JUNCTION WORKED FOR A
FEW YEARS DEVELOPING THEIR
PROPOSAL AND GOT APPROVAL FROM
THE VOTERS TO BORROW TO PAY FOR
THE MATCHING FUNDS.
THE END RESULT IS TWO GRANTS
FROM THE STATE WORTH $2.8
MILLION PROVIDING FIBER TO 1100
RESIDENTS AND 200 BUSINESSES.
>> WHEN THESE TWO PHASES ARE
DONE, WE WILL HAVE SERVICE THAT
WILL MEET OR EXCEED ANY SERVICE
OF ANY URBAN AREA IN THE STATE.
>> BOULDER JUNCTION IS JUST ONE
OF THE COMMUNITIES IN VILAS
COUNTY IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN
THAT'S LEADING THE WAY ON
BROADBAND.
>> WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN AGGRESSIVE
WITH TECHNOLOGY.
>> SCOTT FOSTER IS THE DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATOR FOR NORTHLAND PINE
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EAGLE RIVER.
THE SCHOOL USED GRANTS TO RUN
FIBER TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN
LAND 'O LAKES AND ST. GERMAIN.
THE COMMUNITIES ARE HOPING TO
TAKE IT FROM THERE.
>> WHAT ST. GERMAIN DID IS
APPLIED TO RUN FIBER TO EVERY
ONE OF THEIR TOWN LOCATIONS.
SO ANY DOOR THAT EXISTS OR
FUTURE DOOR WILL HAVE FIBER TO
IT.
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
I THINK BOULDER IS GOING TO SET
THEMSELVES APART.
I THINK ST. GERMAIN NOW IS
STARTING TO DO THAT.
>> THE NORTHLAND PINES SCHOOL
DISTRICT COVERS 476 SQUARE
MILES.
FIBER ONLY THE ISN'T THE ONLY ANSWER.
>> IF YOU'RE LIVING A MILE OUT,
IF FIBER CAN GET TO IN THE
BALLPARK, THEN WE MIGHT NEED TO
JUMP TO A POINT TO POINT
ANTENNA.
>> THE PANDEMIC SHOWED WHEN
PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALL NEEDED
INTERNET AT THE SAME TIME THE
SYSTEM COULDN'T HOLD UP.
>> SOMETIMES THE MEASUREMENT OF
DO YOU HAVE INTERNET OR NOT IS
NO LONGER THE QUESTION.
IT'S WHAT QUALITY INTERNET DO
YOU HAVE.
>> THAT'S WHY THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS PARTNERING WITH A
COMPANY CALLED WISCLIFT TO SEE
IF A TETHERED DRONE NETWORK
COULD PROVIDE A PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE.
>> CAN WE TAKE THE SCHOOL'S
NETWORK, FIREWALL, ALL
RESTRICTIONS AND PUSH IT OUT TO
PEOPLE AT HOME.
>> SCOTT WILLIAMS AND HIS FAMILY
DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT WHILE
SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
THIS DRONE CAN CREATE AN
INTERNET HOT SPOT THAT WOULD
ALLOW STUDENTS TO TAP INTO THE
SCHOOL NETWORK FROM HOME.
>> PUT IT OUT 100 FEET, YOU CAN
GET A MILE OF RADIUS.
>> THE DRONE NETWORK WOULDN'T
MAKE SENSE FOR EVERYDAY USE, BUT
DURING A PANDEMIC OR EVEN JUST A
SNOW DAY IT MIGHT MIKE MAKE ALL THE
DIFFERENCE.
>> I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS
SYSTEM IS -- IT'S TRULY DESIGNED
FOR PUBLIC SERVICE OR EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
I THINK EVERY COUNTY SHOULD HAVE
ONE.
>> THAT'S WHY THE WISCONSIN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
RECENTLY AWARDED WISCLIFT A
$100,000 CAPACITY BUILDING
GRANT.
>> THE WHOLE GOAL BEING ALL OF
THOSE THAT WE SELL AND PRODUCE
COME OUT OF WISCONSIN.
>> THE WEDC ALSO ANNOUNCED A
GRANT TO TEST SATELLITE INTERNET
IN EAU CLAIRE COUNTY.
STARLINK IS PART OF ELON MUSK'S
SPACEX COMPANY.
>> THIS IS THE STARLINK
SATELLITE DISH.
>> JONATHON SHARP IS A BETA
TESTER LIVING IN VILAS COUNTY.
>> I WAS ON A CALL THIS WEEK
WITH PEOPLE FROM TOKYO.
>> HE HAD A CONNECTION IN THE
WOODS OUTSIDE EAGLE RIVER.
>> COME HERE.
>> BUT IT COULD BARELY KEEP UP.
HE SAYS STARLINK PROVIDES FASTER
SPEEDS THAN FIBER.
>> IF YOU CAN POWER THE DISH,
YOU CAN GET AN INTERNET
CONNECTION.
>> STARLINK IS MORE EXPENSIVE,
SO IT'S NOT THE ANSWER FOR
EVERYONE, BUT IT IS THE ANSWER
FOR HIM.
>> WE'RE LIVING THE DREAM.
LIKE THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE.
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD COME AS
FAST AS IT HAS.
>> BEYOND STARLINK, JONATHON
SHARP REPRESENTS THE BIGGEST
SHIFT THAT BROADBAND CAN BRING:
THE TRULY REMOTE WORKER.
>> WHEN WE MOVED UP HERE,
BROADBAND WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.
IT DICTATED WHERE WE LOOKED AT
HOUSES.
>> THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BROADBAND ARE USING IT TO
ATTRACT WORKERS AND BUSINESSES.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF
ENTREPRENEURS HERE AND THEY LIKE
TO BE FLEXIBLE.
WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY FOR
THEM.
>> BOULDER JUNCTION IS USING ITS
TOURIST GUIDE TO ADVERTISE THEIR
BROADBAND PROJECT.
BILL NIEMUTH SAYS THEY'RE
ALREADY SEEING RESULTS.
>> WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IS
THAT RECRUITMENT AND REALLY THE
INFLUX OF THOSE REMOTE WORKERS.
AND JUST ON MY ROAD ALONE, WE
HAVE THREE WHO HAVE MOVED IN IN
THE LAST YEAR WHO ARE NOW
FULL-TIME.
>> SHANNON CLARK HOPES TO SEE
THE SAME THING IN RICHLAND
COUNTY.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL AMERICA
THAT WE'VE SEEN IN DECADES.
THE ABILITY TO STOP THAT BRAIN
DRAIN, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT NOT
ONLY THEIR JOB, THAT GROCERY
STORE, THAT CONVENIENCE STORE,
SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE LOCAL
SCHOOL.
>> WE DID SEE AN ENROLLMENT
INCREASE THIS YEAR.
>> SCOTT FOSTER SAYS NORTHLAND
PINES REVERSED YEARS OF STUDENT
ENROLLMENT DECLINE BECAUSE SOME
FAMILIES DECIDED TO MOVE TO
EAGLE RIVER DURING THE PANDEMIC.
>> THE PLACES THAT HAD BROADBAND
UP HERE, WHEN PEOPLE WERE
WORKING FROM HOME, THEY
VACATIONED HERE OR CAME HERE FOR
EXTRA WEEKS BECAUSE THEIR KID
COULD LEARN DURING THE DAY AND
THEY COULD DO ALL THE THINGS
THEY LIKE TO DO.
>> IF REMOTE WORKERS CAN LIVE
ANYWHERE THEY WANT, WHY NOT THE
NORTHWOODS?
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE
HOUSE THEY'RE BUYING HAS
BROADBAND.
>> REALTORS UP HERE WILL TELL
YOU THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO
KNOW.
>> REPORTING FROM EAGLE RIVER,
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> REPUBLICANS ON THE JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE WERE EXPECTED
TO REVEAL THEIR PLAN ABOUT
BROADBAND, BUT YESTERDAY THEY
DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER JUNE
IN ORDER TO GET MORE DETAILS ON
THE $100 MILLION IN GRANTS THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS ANNOUNCED EERLD
ER THIS WEEK.
NOW TO HEALTH NEWS.
GOVERNOR EVERS TOURED THE STATE
THIS WEEK TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO
EXPAND BADGERCARE AND INVEST
MONEY INTO STATE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
REPUBLICANS OPPOSED THE
EXPANSION.
LEADERSHIP IS EXPECTED TO GAVEL
IN AND GAVEL OUT THE SESSION
WITH NO ACTION TAKEN.
NOW TO COVID NEWS.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE TOOK STEPS THIS WEEK TO
FOLLOW CDC GUIDELINES TO NO
LONGER REQUIRE VACCINATED PEOPLE
TO WEAR MAIVES IN MASKS IN PUBLIC.
THIS COMES AS VACCINATION RATES
CONTINUE TO CLIMB.
WE CHECK IN ON VACCINATIONS AND
THE LOOSENING OF PUBLIC HEALTH
EE TRICKHEALTHRESTRICTIONS WITH DR. CASEY, WHO
JOINS US FROM GREEN BAY.
SO THE LAST TIME THAT WE TALKED
WITH YOU WAS IN OCTOBER AND YOUR
HOSPITAL AND THE COMMUNITIES IT
SERVES WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE
FALL SURGE OF COVID-19 AND
SENDING PATIENTS TO THE STATE
FIELD HOSPITAL WAS UNDER
CONSIDERATION AT THAT TIME.
HOW DOES TODAY COMPARE TO THAT?
>> TODAY IS REMARKABLY
DIFFERENT.
WE ARE STILL SEEING COVID, BUT
THE NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IS
MARKEDLY DIMINISHED COMPARED TO
THE FALL.
WE'RE RUNNING A CENSUS OF ONE TO
SIX COVID PATIENTS PER DAY
COMPARED TO GREATER THAN 40 PER
DAY IN THE FALL.
SO EVEN THOUGH COVID IS STILL
HERE, THE NUMBERS ARE MARKEDLY
DIMINISHED, THE LOWEST SINCE
LAST JUNE YESTERDAY.
>> SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I DID
WANT TO ASK YOU WAS CAN YOU AND
YOUR STAFF YET EXHALE THEN IN
RELIEF.
>> YES.
WE CAN.
AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
FOR A LONG TIME.
THE PANDEMIC IS SOMETHING THAT
US IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
HAVE NEVER SEEN IN OUR LIFETIME.
IT'S A ONCE IN A CENTURY EVENT.
IT STILL IS A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC
THAT IN THIS COUNTRY HAS KILLED
ALMOST 600,000 PEOPLE.
AT THE PEAK OF OUR EXPERIENCE AT
OUR HOSPITAL, 25% OF OUR
HOSPITAL CAPACITY WAS FILLED
WITH COVID PATIENTS WHO WERE
VERY, VERY ILL.
AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS DID NOT TRULY
REFLECT THE DEVASTATION CAUSED
BY THIS DISEASE.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE
LONG HAULER SYNDROME WHERE EVEN
IF YOU'VE HAD COVID AND NOT BE
SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED,
YOU CAN HAVE SEQUELAE FOR MONTHS
AND YEARS.
>> SO THE VACCINATION RATE IN
BROWN COUNTY SITS AT ABOUT 40%,
ABOUT THE SAME RATE FOR THE SATE
AS A WHOLE.
ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES
IS AT 30%.
IS THAT HIGH ENOUGH IN YOUR
ESTIMATION?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE NEED 75%, 80% VACCINATION
RATES TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A HIGHER RATE WITHIN OUR
HOSPITAL COMMUNITY.
WE'RE SITTING AT 71% OF OUR
HOSPITAL STAFF FULLY VACCINATED
AT THIS POINT.
SO THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO
GET OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND BE
ABLE TO NOT WEAR MASKS IS TO GET
HERD IMMUNITY AND THAT'S
UNACHIEVABLE UNTIL WE HAVE A
HIGHER RATE.
>> BUT WITH THE DRAMATIC EASING
OF CASES AND AT THE SAME TIME
VACCINATIONS, ALTHOUGH NOT AT A
HIGH ENOUGH RATE, WE'RE NOW IN A
PLACE WHERE MASK REQUIREMENTS
AND CROWD RESTRICTIONS ARE ON
THE WAY OUT.
DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT
COURSE?
>> IT IS IF THE CDC
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOLLOWED.
SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
BASED ON RECENT SCIENTIFIC
STUDIES THAT SHOWED MAINLY THREE
MAIN POINTS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE VACCINE IS 90%
EFFECTIVE.
IT'S ACTUALLY MORE EFFECTIVE IN
REALITY THAN IT WAS IN THE
CLINICAL TRIALS.
DR. FAUCI WAS YESTERDAY POINTING
OUT THESE THREE POINTS.
IT'S 90% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING
ILLNESS FROM COVID-19.
THE SECOND POINT IS THAT THE
VACCINES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
AGAINST THE VARIANTS.
THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN,
THAT THE NEW VARIANTS WOULD NOT
BE HANDLED BY THE VACCINES.
BUT WE KNOW NOW THAT THEY DO
COVER THE VARIANTS.
AND THE THIRD POINT IS THAT EVEN
IF YOU GET INFECTED AFTER HAVING
BEEN VACCINATED, THE CHANCES OF
YOU HAVING ENOUGH VIRAL LOAD TO
TRANSMIT THE VIRUS IS
EXCEEDINGLY SMALL.
THE FEAR WE HAD IS YOU COULD
STILL GET A ASYMPTOMATIC
INFECTION.
WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT THAT'S
NOT TRUE.
THE CHANCE OF TRANSMISSION IF
YOU'RE VACCINATED IF YOU DO GET
INFECTED AND DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS
IS VERY, VERY SMALL.
>> ALL VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS.
DR. PAUL CASEY, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL,
WHERE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED
ECONOMIC PLANS THIS WEEK,
PROPOSALS THAT WOULD END
WISCONSIN'S PARTICIPATION IN
SEVERAL FEDERAL RECOVERY
PROGRAMS RELATED TO UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAYS
THE RELIEF MONEY TO WORKERS
PREVENTS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
FROM FILLING OPEN POSITIONS.
>> THE THING THAT IS WORRYING
MANY OF US AND THAT WE HAVE TO
CHANGE THAT'S IMPEDING THE
RECOVERY IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN
FROM BEGINNING TO END.
SO IF YOU'RE A MANUFACTURER, YOU
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO GET YOUR PRODUCTS IN AND BE
ABLE TO SHIP THEM OUT TO MARKET.
THAT'S BECAUSE TRUCKING
COMPANIES HAVE A HUGE CONCERN
WITH THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE
APPLYING AND FILLING POSITIONS.
WE SEE EVERY SINGLE MANUFACTURER
THAT I SPOKE WITH -- AND I SPOKE
TO LARGE AND SMALL, AND THEY ALL
SAY THE SAME THING, THAT THEY
ARE SEEING A SMALLER NUMBER OF
APPLICANTS, THEY ARE SEEING THE
FOLKS WHO DO APPLY NOT
NECESSARILY SHOW UP FOR
INTERVIEWS.
THEY ARE SEEING FOLKS WHO DO NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME WORK
ETHIC APPLYING FOR SOME OF THE
POSITIONS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.
THE STATE'S LARGEST BUSINESS
LOBBY APPLAUDS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE
ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
OF AN EXTRA $300 PER WEEK AND
THE MOVE THAT REINSTATES TD WORK
SEARCH REQUIREMENT TO RECEIVE
BENEFITS.
THAT TAKES EFFECT SUNDAY.
THE WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS AND
COMMERCE SAYS THERE IS A CRISIS
LEVEL WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AND
PANDEMIC-RELATED POLICIES CREATE
A DISINCENTIVE TO WORK.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE WORKERS GONE
AND WHAT WILL BRING THEM BACK?
FOR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS
AND MORE, WE TURN TO THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CHIEF
ECONOMIST DENNIS WINTERS.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> THE SO IN YOUR ESTIMATION ARE
ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME AND OUT
OF THE WORKFORCE?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S
THE PRELIMINARY REASON OR THE
PRIMARY REASON THAT WE ARE
SEEING, YOU KNOW, SHORTAGE OF
WORKERS THROUGH THE STATE.
IT MAY HAVE SOME EFFECT NOW THAT
THE ECONOMY IS OPENING.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME STUDIES THAT
HAVE SHOWN THERE IS SOME
DISINCENTIVE DEPENDING ON THE
GAP BETWEEN WHAT THEY ARE
GETTING IN BENEFITS AND WHAT
THEY NORMALLY MAKE IN THEIR
SALARIES.
BUT THAT'S NOT WIDESPREAD AT
THIS POINT.
BUT AS WE TRANSMISSION TO A MORE
OPEN ECONOMY, YEAH, IT MIGHT BE
A LITTLE DISINCENTIVE NOW THAT
THERE ARE JOBS TO GO BACK TO,
SURE.
>> YOU'RE SAYING IT'S NOT THE
PRIMARY REASON, THOUGH.
WHAT IS?
>> WELL, THE PRIMARY REASON AS
WE TALKED ABOUT FOR SOME TIME IS
THERE IS JUST A SHORTAGE OF
BODIES, A SHORTAGE OF CITIZENS
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO
FILL ALL THESE JOBS.
WE HAD THE SAME SITUATION THAT
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT BEFORE THE
GREAT RECESSION BACK IN '07.
THAT LET SOME OF THE PRESSURE
OUT OF THE POT, RIGHT?
AS SOON AS WE TURNED AROUND FROM
THERE, BUSINESSES WERE
COMPLAINING THAT THEY COULDN'T
FIND ENOUGH WORKERS THEN.
THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S HAPPENED
IS THE BABYBOOMERS HAVE GOTTEN
10, 11 YEARS OLDER THROUGH THE
GREAT RECESSION AND ARE RETIRING
OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.
>> AND SO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
I KNOW THAT EMPLOYERS -- YOU SEE
IT KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY'RE KIND OF BOOSTING THEIR
LOWER LEVEL WAGES SOME.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
IS IT ABOUT BOOSTING WAGES AND
OTHER THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO
ATTRACT EMPLOYEES?
>> WELL, PART OF IT WILL BE
BOOSTING WAGES FOR ANY
PARTICULAR FIRM.
BUT IF OVERALL YOU JUST HAVE A
SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, AT SOME
POINT HIGHER WAGES AREN'T GOING
TO MATTER.
YOU'RE JUST GOING TO RUN OUT OF
SUPPLY IS KIND OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER INCENTIVES
TO GET MORE BODIES INTO THE
WORKFORCE AND THEY MAY HAVE TO
COME FROM OTHER PLACES.
>> LIKE?
>> WELL, THEY CAN COME FROM
NEIGHBORING STATES IF IN FACT
THEY LET US TAKE ALL THEIR
WORKERS, SO THERE WILL BE
COMPETITION AMONG OTHER STATES
DOING THE SAME THING.
ANOTHER SOLUTION IS FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES AND IMMIGRATION.
THE U.S. IS STILL A PLACE THAT
PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO, SO
THAT'S ONE SOLUTION FOR THE
SUPPLY.
>> SO HOW DOES A WORKER SHORTAGE
IN THIS WAY AFFECT WISCONSIN'S
ECONOMY?
>> WELL, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, IT
AFFECTS IN THE SENSE WE CAN'T --
A LOT OF COMPANIES CANNOT
PRODUCE THE ORDERS THAT THEY
HAVE COMING INTO THEIR SHOPS.
SO THAT DAMPENS HOW MUCH GOODS
AND SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED
AND SLOWS ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THE THING WE HAVE -- WE HAVE TO
RAISE PRODUCTIVITY, RIGHT, OF
THE WORKERS AND THE TECHNOLOGY
AND MATCH THEM TO BE ABLE TO
KEEP GROWING THE ECONOMY.
>> AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE AN
INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, RIGHT,
BECAUSE IT'S JUST FRANKLY A
SHORTAGE OF, AS YOU SAID,
BODIES.
BUT IS THERE -- ARE THERE SOME
SOLUTIONS THAT JUMP OUT AT YOU
AT THIS TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE
CALLING IT A CRISIS?
>> WELL, YEAH.
SOME SOLUTIONS, AGAIN, ARE
IMMIGRATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY, RIGHT, THE VISAS THAT
THEY USE TO BRING IN SUMMER
HELP, PARTICULARLY RIGHT AROUND
PLACES LIKE THE DELLS IN
WISCONSIN.
THERE'S LIMITS THERE ABOUT HOW
MANY PEOPLE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO
BRING IN.
SO THAT'S ONE SOLUTION.
YOU COULD OPEN SOME OF THAT UP.
ANOTHER SOLUTION IS IMMIGRATION
AS A WHOLE AND BRINGING IN
WORKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THE OTHER RESOURCE I SEE THAT'S
UNTAPPED THAT WE NEED TO TAP
INTO IS THE CHRONICALLY
UNEMPLOYED, THOSE THAT HAVE A
NUMBER OF BARRIERS.
EITHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, IT'S
DAY CARE, IT'S SKILL LEVELS.
THERE'S A SEGMENT OF THAT THAT
WE HAVE TO TAP INTO IN THIS
STATE.
AND THE STATE'S DOING A LOT IN
TRAINING PROGRAMS TO TRY TO GET
THOSE PEOPLE UP TO SPEED.
BUT IF YOUR WORKFORCE IS
FLATTENING OUT ON TOP, YOU'VE
GOT TO GO TO THE SUPPLY THAT'S
UNTAPPED WITHIN THE STATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
LOTS MORE TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS,
THOUGH.
DENNIS WINTERS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, A
PROGRAM NOTE.
NEXT WEEK MARKS THE ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S
MURDER.
MONDAY NIGHT PBS WISCONSIN
PRESENTS A PAIR OF PROGRAMS ON
HOW THAT SPARKED A RENEWED
CONVERSATION ABOUT SOCIAL
JUSTICE IN AMERICA.
FIRST "SAY HIS NAME," A
DOCUMENTARY FROM TWIN CITIES
PUBLIC TELEVISION, FOLLOWED BY A
SPECIAL BROADCAST OF "WHY RACE
MATTERS."
HOST ANGELA FITZGERALD LEADS THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MEDIA
COVERAGE OF BLACK DEATH.
THAT'S MONDAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON
PBS WISCONSIN.
WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
STUDENT JOURNALIST AND INTERNIST
CASSIE MCGREE.
THEY GRADUATED FROM UW-MADISON
THIS MONTH.
THANK YOU, CASSIDY, AND GOOD
LUCK IN ALL YOUR ENDEFERS.
ENDEAVORS.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.