Regional Strategies

Assessment of Readiness

Broadband Investment Plans

Regional Teams

Developing a Broadband Vision

Current Status of LinkWISCONSIN Project

Next Steps

Assessment of Readiness

The LinkWISCONSIN planning process begins with an assessment of the state’s broadband readiness, which lays the groundwork for designing and building a more-connected future. The assessment focuses on broadband adoption and includes a series of personal interviews, surveys and public meetings, as well as a careful inventory of the various programs, leadership initiatives, grants and other available resources that improve Wisconsin’s adoption of broadband.

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Broadband Investment Plans

The information and insights collected help bring into focus a clear picture of how Wisconsin's families, businesses, health care providers, educational institutions, government and others access and apply broadband tools and services. This broadband adoption data is then combined with mapping data, which details current gaps in Wisconsin’s broadband connectivity.

Together, the adoption data and the maps are used to create statewide and regional “investment plans” for broadband development. Each plan provides a specific blueprint for action that is:

• Doable: possible and realistic given available resources.
• Effective: organized around goals and objectives that are meaningful for the needs of each region.
• Measurable: contains specific measurable benchmarks and assigned accountability.

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Regional Teams

Regional teams are organized to be responsible for carrying out implementation of the plans. The LinkWISCONSIN team provides these teams with training and technical assistance to facilitate their success.

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Developing a Broadband Vision

As a major step in the planning process, LinkWISCONSIN has completed twenty-eight (28) interviews with leaders from across the State representing education, health care, business, agriculture, economic development, energy, environmental interests, government, public safety and broadband providers.

These interviews provide important insights about how expanded broadband access can help achieve the goals important to Wisconsin’s future, as well as specific challenges that must be addressed to be successful.

The Report of Interview Findings presents an initial broadband development and utilization assessment for Wisconsin. The results lay the groundwork for a series of regional planning efforts designed to increase the availability and adoption of broadband throughout the state. This report is used to frame two subsequent data collection efforts:

• A consumer survey investigating broadband usage.
• An interactive web survey designed to raise awareness and to identify region-specific priorities for broadband.

Together, these research findings are combined with the outcomes of the mapping process and applied into strategic actions by the regional planning teams. These efforts will be accomplished in close coordination with on-going Wisconsin regional broadband planning initiatives.

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Current Status of LinkWISCONSIN Project

The LinkWISCONSIN project team completed analyzing and organizing information gained from interviews with major interest group stakeholders into short video segments. The public is invited to view the segments and contribute personal thoughts on what Wisconsin can and should do to ensure broadband is available and adequately meets the needs of our communities.

Regional planning teams have completed broadband investment plans.

During project year 4 (Nov. 1, 2012 - Oct. 31, 2013), the program partners are focusing on continued data collection and development of the GIS-layered broadband maps, expanded mapping and data development efforts that include enhanced data validation, implementation of the regional broadband investment plans, implementing capacity building efforts and developing monitoring and evaluation tools.

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