Summary
November 2021 — Access to broadband is critical for Wisconsin communities in the 21st century – connected to better business performance, entrepreneurship, higher home values, better educational outcomes, improved health outcomes, and higher worker productivity. Despite these benefits, access to high-quality broadband is limited in many communities throughout Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Broadband Summit is organized to help Wisconsin communities enhance broadband access by:
- understanding the importance of broadband to economic development,
- exploring models for active networking and leadership development,
- accessing and applying mapping, data, and survey research techniques, and
- learning about available funding options.
Webinar Recording
Agenda
Enhancing Broadband Access in Wisconsin
- Brittany Beyer, Chairperson, Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, Executive Director, Grow North Economic Development Corporation
Broadband and the Wisconsin Economy
- Tessa Conroy, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Community Economic Development Specialist, UW–Madison
- Steve Deller, Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Community Economic Development Specialist, UW-Madison
Digital Equity and Inclusion
- Steve Goldberg, Executive Director, Wisconsin Education Association (WEA) Member Benefits Association
- Brian Gauthier, Community Development Extension Educator, Lac du Flambeau
Active Networking and Leadership Panel
- Moderator: Gail Huycke, Community Development Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison, Division of Extension, & Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Member
- Panelist: Boulder Junction – Bill Niemuth, President, Loss Mitigation Solutions, and Board Member of Vilas County Economic Development Corporation
- Panelist: Wood County – MaryAnn Lippert, Owner, MaryAnn Lippert Consultant, LLC
- Panelist: New North – Barbara Koldos, New North Vice President, Business Development
Mapping, Data, and Surveying
- Moderator & Panelist: Matt Kures, Community Economic Development Specialist, UW-Madison, Division of Extension
- Panelist: Brown County Mapping – August Neverman, Chief Operating Officer, BCCAN and Broadband Services
- Panelist: Community Survey – Barry Hottmann, Community Development Extension Educator, Iowa County
Funding Broadband Access
- Moderator: Chris Stark, Community Development Extension Educator, Forest County, UW-Madison, Division of Extension
- Panelist: Examples of Local Funding: Kewaunee – Scott Feldt, County Administrator, Kewaunee County
- Panelist: Taylor County – Mike Bub, Chairperson of the Taylor County Broadband Committee
- Panelist: State & Federal Funding – Alyssa Kenney, Director of Digital Access, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- Panelist: Economic Development Administration – Tom Baron, Economic Development Representative for the Economic Development Administration
Resources
- Funding Broadband Access Panel, PowerPoint
- ARPA Broadband Access Grant Summary
- Wisconsin Broadband Office
- US Economic Development Administration
- Broadband & Telecommunication Programs USDA Rural Development
- Map of Wisconsin Regional Planning Commissions
- Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF)
- RDOF Map PSC
This summit is co-sponsored by:
This webinar was made possible, in part, by a grant from the United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration in support of the Economic Development Administration University Center at the Division of Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.
