Wisconsin bridging digital divide for residents with $27.8 million in funding

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) is announcing $27.8 million in funding to bridge the digital divide in the state. The funds will support projects through the Digital Connectivity and Navigators (DNC) Program and will enhance internet access by providing essential technology and digital navigators to thousands of Wisconsin residents.

The funding is set to benefit an estimated 52,409 households with loaned devices, such as computers and tablets, and provide free Wi-Fi access to 33,682 households. This initiative is a part of the state’s broader strategy to address digital disparities and build on previous state and federal broadband expansion efforts.

The DNC program, allocated through the Wisconsin’s Capital Project Fund and funded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, aims to tackle critical gaps in internet access and affordability across Wisconsin. Through grants and funding support, the program represents the state’s continued commitment to ensuring Wisconsinites have access to and can effectively utilize high-speed broadband internet.

The highest-funded project in this round of PSC funding is led by United Way of Wisconsin, receiving $16.5 million for the initiative. The project, in collaboration with local and state partners, will distribute 33,000 devices to low-income households across the state. The project will also assign nine digital navigators to assist recipients in digital navigation services and support nonprofit partners in identifying and distributing devices, primarily laptops, to recipients. After the delivery of devices to recipients, United Way of Wisconsin’s project will ensure that people are educated and supported in accessing health, education and employment services.

The other projects receiving funding in this round will address a variety of digital equity and internet access initiatives. The projects include:

Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. – $2.44 million – Wisconsin Literacy will provide 3,000 households with fully subsidized devices and remote digital navigation. The project also includes in-person digital literacy training for 1,500 adult learners through local literacy agencies.

Connect to Compete, Inc – $1.83 million – The initiative will provide 2,000 underserved households in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties with high-quality refurbished laptops and digital navigation services through a partnership with Human-I-T.

Human-I-T (Northeast WI) – $1.7 million – The project will provide 2,500 income-qualified households in Vilas, Oneida, Florence and Forest counties with devices, technical support and remote and in-person digital navigation. Human-I-T will also partner with the University of Wisconsin Extension Area 4 and other community-based organizations to implement the project.

DANEnet, Incorporated – $1.5 million – This project will distribute 2,000 devices in Dane County, focusing on low-income individuals and seniors, with onsite digital navigation and tech support at community sites and libraries.

Bayfield County – $1.22 million – Bayfield County will deploy 240 devices across six libraries and 182 housing authority apartments, connecting Wisconsin residents. The project will include installing Wi-Fi and providing digital navigation services for work, education and health monitoring.

Walnut Way Conservation Corp – $880,000 – Walnut Way’s project will launch a wireless ISP network and provide Wi-Fi and devices to 3,500 households in Milwaukee’s Linkey Heights and Northside areas.

Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Inc – $723,545 – The project will offer device distribution and digital navigation services to underserved and low-income households in Ashland, Douglas, Iron, Burnett, Sawyer and Washburn counties.

City of Racine – $576,049 – The City of Racine will distribute laptops to 460 households and provide digital literacy training and technical support through ten trained navigators. The project will target residents who were most impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Chippewa Valley – $348,691 – The initiative will distribute computing devices to 500 students and families in Chippewa, Eau Claire, Dunn and Jackson counties. A partnership with Human-I-T will support remote digital navigation and technical support efforts for residents.

Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation – $200,000 – This project offers hardware, software and technical support in Milwaukee County as part of a workforce development program, including a four-month training program and a 24-month case management-supported residency.

For a comprehensive list and more resources related to the DNC, see PSC’s Award Summary Report.

Part of the decision-making process for PSC came from data-driven reports and surveys. Specifically, data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey highlights the ongoing need for such programs. The survey reveals that approximately 7% of Wisconsin residents do not have a computer at home, and over 12% do not have broadband internet subscriptions. This gap underscores the necessity of digital equity programs and has put forth action from PSC and the state.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash