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