Funding - Awards

The following is a partial list of awards for broadband and related projects.

• This map shows the 37 States where new broadband will be deployed as a result of the first phase of the Connect America Fund. The amount of funding by State and number of locations receiving support can be shown by moving your mouse over each State.

  The Connect America Fund aims to connect 7 million unserved rural Americans to broadband in six years, and puts the nation on a path to connect all 19 million unserved rural residents by 2020. The FCC launched this unprecedented broadband expansion last year when it reformed and modernized the Universal Service Fund, which connected rural America to the telephone network in the 20th century.

  The Commission created the Connect America Fund to unleash the benefits of broadband for all Americans in the 21st century. In the first phase, about $115 million of public funding will be coupled with tens of millions more in private investment to quickly expand broadband infrastructure to rural communities in every region of the nation.

On June 6, 2012, USDA announced funding for 52 distance learning and telemedicine projects that will increase access to health care and enhance educational opportunities in 29 states.

Two Wisconsin telehealth projects were included in this slate of awards.

Dean Health Systems, Inc. | $446,735 | Funds will be used to establish a comprehensive telemedicine system serving 12 end-user sites connected to 4 hub sites in Dean’s 7‐county service area of rural, south‐central Wisconsin. Residents in these rural communities will benefit from quick access to the critical specialty care they need, including telestroke services and cardiology, pharmacy services, dermatology, and more.

Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative | $91,881 | Funds will purchase the video teleconferencing and related equipment that will enable the Cooperative to extend its training services and coordinate a program of shared medical services among its membership of 35 rural hospitals throughout Wisconsin. The headquarters and training center is located in Sauk City, where equipment will be installed to manage and coordinate the array of medical resources that will soon become available in many parts of rural Wisconsin as a result of the grant.

In Dec. 2011, USDA announced new funding awards through the agency's Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program.

Three Wisconsin entities were included in this slate of awards:

• Cooperative Educational Services Agency #7 | $245,005
• Cooperative Educational Services Agency #8 | $500,000
• Aspirus Health Foundation, Inc. | $53,000

USDA announced funding in Nov. 2011 to expand and improve broadband services in rural areas across 15 states.

Two Wisconsin projects were included in this slate of awards.

• Union Telephone Company | $13,308,000 in loan funds will enable Union to deploy approximately 336 miles of fiber, which will provide approximately 60 percent of Union's subscribers with access to improved broadband services.
• Marquette-Adams Telephone Cooperative, Inc. | $19,781,000 in loan funds to complete a system-wide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, including over 370 miles of new or modified buried fiber, providing enhanced broadband service to all subscribers.

A $50 million loan from USDA Rural Development to East Central Energy of Minnesota means an expansion and upgrade of telecommunications services for residents in Burnett, Douglas and Washburn Counties in Wisconsin.

The Vernon Telephone Cooperative in Westby has been selected for a $24 million loan from the USDA Rural Development Community Connect program to build a Fiber-To-The-Premises (FTTP) system in areas outside the town. Vernon also plans to make other system improvements in several area exchanges.

Senator Herb Kohl announced Wisconsin will receive $16,716,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for projects to deliver broadband services to rural communities. These funds, awarded to Baldwin Telecom, Inc., will be used to create broadband infrastructure that will provide rural areas in northwestern Wisconsin with high-speed Internet.

After detailed communications and consultations with BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN) vendor partners and federal authorities, the Department of Administration (DOA) has determined that the state will decline a $23 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) federal grant intended to expand broadband and fiber to Wisconsin schools and libraries.

USDA announced the funding of 45 telemedicine projects that will help rural areas receive advanced technology in healthcare. The 106 projects total more than $34.7 million and will be distributed through the agency’s distance learning and telemedicine program. Projects funded in Wisconsin include:

• Cooperative Education Services Agency Number 5 | $176,877
• The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System | $255,597
• Aspirus Health Foundation, Inc. | $486,707

NTIA awarded an additional $2.82 million grant to continue Wisconsin's broadband mapping and planning project three additional years.

List of NTIA and RUS Awards benefiting Wisconsin as of Sept. 30, 2010. These awards include funding for infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption programs.

NTIA has announced 35 new BTOP awards, totaling over $482 million. This round of awards did not include any projects in the State of Wisconsin.

Read more about the awards and recipients in U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke's Sept. 13 announcement.

USDA has awarded 43 additional awards for infrastructure projects located in 27 states. This slate of awards, announced on Sept. 13, did not include any projects benefiting Wisconsin.

View the full list of awards.

View a map indicating the locations of Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) awards for Wisconsin.

The White House released an announcement on August 18 of additional Round 2 BTOP and BIP funds awarded by USDA and the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Four Wisconsin projects were included, as well as three multi-state projects that may benefit Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin System: This approximately $29.9 million award, with more than $12.8 in matching contributions, will allow the University of Wisconsin – Extension Service (UWEX) to offer affordable middle-mile broadband service in communities across the state. The project plans to directly connect as many as 182 community institutions to broadband. As many as 333,600 people stand to benefit as do 9,000 businesses.

• View a map of the proposed middle and last-mile service areas.
• View a map of existing and proposed fiber in project area.
• University of Wisconsin System: This approximately $2.4 million award will allow the University of Wisconsin System to increase broadband usage through comprehensive and targeted broadband adoption programs in five needy communities in the state. The project will create seven public computer centers and develop targeted programs for tribes, farmers, senior citizens, students, and the unemployed.
• College of Menominee Nations: This approximately $3.4 million award, matched by nearly $1.7 million in matching contributions, will allow the College of Menominee Nation to upgrade and expand public computer services for the Menominee Indian tribe of Wisconsin as well as residents in nearby regions. The project plans to deploy up to 130 new workstations and increase hours of operation to serve an estimated 660 additional users per week as well as provide educational and skills training to residents.
• City of Milwaukee: This approximately $2.5 million award will allow the City of Milwaukee to enhance broadband capacity and availability for the public with a particular focus on economically vulnerable communities and areas of the city with higher poverty and unemployment rates. The project plans to deploy up to 270 new computer workstations, upgrade broadband speeds, and provide skills training to residents.
• Merit Network Inc (multi-state): This approximately $69.6 million award will allow Merit Network to offer affordable middle-mile broadband service in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Lower Northern Peninsula, with additional connections to research and educational networks in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The project plans to directly connect 61 community institutions to broadband. As many as 1.8 million people stand to benefit as do 49,000 businesses.
• Hughes Network Systems (multi-state): This approximately $59 million award will allow Hughes Network Systems to offer satellite broadband service to rural residential and commercial subscribers nationwide. Approximately 258,685 people stand to benefit, as do roughly 3,200 businesses.
• Wildblue Communications (multi-state): This approximately $20 million award will allow Wildblue Communications to expand satellite broadband service. Approximately 110,150 people stand to benefit, as do roughly 4,896 businesses.

RUS has posted their initial list of Round 2 BIP awardees. Thirteen (13) projects benefiting Wisconsin are included.

Badger Telecom, LLC: This $4 million grant to Badger Telecom, LLC with an additional $1.3 million of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. This service will be comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. Badger Telecom's project stands to benefit approximately 2,000 people, 35 businesses, and 15 community institutions.

Baldwin Telecom, Inc.: This award of $9.1 million will be combined with $120,000 in outside capital. The Baldwin Telecom project will build a 109 mile fiber-to-the-home infrastructure in the town of Troy, Wisconsin. More than 3,600 people, 30 local businesses and 2 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service.

Central State Telephone Company, LLC: This $3.8 million grant with an additional $1.2 million of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory, which is comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. Central State Telephone Company's project stands to benefit approximately 3,000 people, 75 businesses, and 10 community institutions.

Chequamegon Communications Cooperative Inc.: Using this award of $31.1 million, Chequamegon Communications Cooperative, Inc. (CCC) will deploy Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), providing high speed internet access to communities it serves in northern Wisconsin. More than 10,400 people, 959 local businesses and 35 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service.

Eastcoast Telecom Of Wisconsin, LLC: With this award of $1.7 million, plus another $550,000 in outside capital, Eastcoast Telecom of Wisconsin, LLC, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. More than 1,100 people, 27 local businesses and 6 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service.

The Farmers Telephone Company, LLC: This $1.4 million grant with an additional $480,000 of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory in Wisconsin. Farmers Telephone's project stands to benefit approximately 1,000 people, 30 businesses, and several other community institutions.

Grantland Telecom, LLC: With this award of $1.7 million, plus an additional $550,000 in outside capital, Grantland Telecom, LLC, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. More than 790 people, 12 local businesses and 2 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service.

Midway Telephone Company: This $4.7 million grant with an additional $1.6 million of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory in Wisconsin. Midway Telephone's project stands to benefit approximately 2,700 people, 50 businesses, and 20 other community institutions.

Riverside Telecom, LLC: With this award of $800,000, plus an additional $200,000 in outside capital, Riverside Telecom, LLC, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. More than 490 people, 6 local businesses and 5 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service.

Scandinavia Telphone Company, LLC: With this award of $1.2 million, plus an additional $400,000 in outside capital, Scandinavia Telephone Company, LLC, a subsidiary of TDS Telecom, proposes a project to bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. More than 1,000 people, 11 local businesses and 5 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service.

Southeast Telephone Co. Of Wisconsin, LLC: This $947,555 grant with an additional $315,000 of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. This service will be comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. Southeast Telephone Company of Wisconsin's project stands to benefit approximately 1,200 people, 20 businesses, and 1 community institution.

Stockbridge & Sherwood Telephone Company, LLC: This $1.8 million grant with an additional $612,000 of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. This service will be comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. Stockbridge & Sherwood Telephone's project stands to benefit approximately 1,400 people, 30 businesses, and 5 other community institutions.

UTELCO, LLC: This $2.8 million grant to Utelco, LLC with an additional $941,000 of outside capital will bring high-speed DSL broadband service to unserved establishments within its rural service territory. This service will be comparable to the DSL service provided in its more populated areas. Utelco's project stands to benefit approximately 1,800 people, 50 businesses, and 8 other community institutions.

NTIA announced a nearly $15 million ARRA investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, and improve communications for people with disabilities nationwide. The grant to Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD) intends to expand broadband adoption among people who are deaf and hard of hearing and provide them with tools to more fully participate in the digital economy. CSD’s Project Endeavor plans to employ a mix of discounted broadband service and specialized computers, technology training from an online state-of-the-art support center customized to the community’s needs, public access to videophones at community anchor institutions across the country, and a nationwide outreach initiative.

All BTOP awards will be made by September 30, 2010.

Round 2 BTOP and BIP awards have been announced. Two Wisconsin projects and one nationwide project impacting Wisconsin were included in the first slate of BTOP/BIP awards announced on July 2, 2010.

• Wisconsin Projects

  Reedsburg Utility Commission, Inc: This $5.2 million grant combined with $2.3 million in outside capital will extend an existing municipal FTTP network to the surrounding rural areas to provide affordable advanced broadband service to residents and businesses currently confined to traditional dial-up, unreliable wireless, and costly satellite services. Over 6,000 people stand to benefit from this grant, along with 144 businesses and 12 community institutions. Not only will this project create jobs upfront, but it will help drive economic development in the community that will create jobs for years to come.

  Marquette‐Adams Telephone Cooperative, Inc.: This $20 million grant/loan project will extend fiber optic service from the cooperative's existing service area to surrounding unserved rural areas in central Wisconsin. Over 11,000 people stand to benefit from this grant, along with 144 businesses and 12 community institutions. Not only will this project create jobs upfront, but it will help drive economic development in the community that will create jobs for years to come.

  Press Release from USDA Rural Utilities Service and Rural Development (Wisconsin) on above awards

• Nationwide Project impacting Wisconsin

  University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development: This $62.5 million grant with an additional $34.3 million applicant-provided match will interconnect more than 30 existing research and educational networks, creating a nation-wide high-capacity network that will enable advanced networking features for more than 100,000 essential community anchor institutions.

RUS has posted a listing of the USDA's Community Facilities Program's Awardees and Applicants. This list can be used by applicants of the Rural Library Broadband Grant Program to identify those libraries which were constructed, or are to be constructed, with funding from the USDA’s Community Facilities program of the Rural Housing Service.

Wisconsin awards include:

• City of Neillsville
• Town of Presque Isle
• Village of Webster

NTIA Announces Broadband Mapping/Planning Grant for Wisconsin

Read full Executive Summary for Wisconsin's SBDD grant application.

RUS has completed their list of all Round 1 Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) awards.

No RUS projects were awarded in Round 1 for the State of Wisconsin.

Round One BIP Announcements by State

NTIA awarded 82 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants worth $1.2 billion. The remainder of the NTIA monies will be awarded as required by ARRA by September 30, 2010.

In addition to the SBDD grant, Wisconsin received three BTOP awards in Round 1.

• The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
• State of Wisconsin Department of Administration
• One Economy Corporation

All Round 1 NTIA Grant Awards

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State's Comments Submitted to NTIA Regarding BTOP Applications

The Recovery Act authorized the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to consult with states, territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia regarding the identification of unserved and underserved areas within their borders and the preferred allocation of grant funds to projects in or affecting their states.

Consistent with this objective, NTIA invited each state (via its governor), to comment on BTOP applications that proposed serving areas within their jurisdictions, as well as providing an explanation of why certain applications would meet the greatest needs of the state. Information provided by states was among the factors considered by NTIA in making final awards.

States were not required to rank or comment on BTOP applications in order for applications to receive funding, and states were advised that they may choose to comment on some, but not all, of the applications submitted on behalf of their state.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle submitted letters to the NTIA in October 2009 and May 2010 on the applications that were submitted that had significant Wisconsin footprints.

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