Building advanced broadband infrastructure to strengthen Wisconsin’s community anchor institutions

The University of Wisconsin Extension is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, WiscNet (Wisconsin’s research and education network), and the Wisconsin BadgerNet Access Alliance (Statewide consortium of private telecommunications providers) to apply for grant monies in all three phases of federal broadband stimulus funding available under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. The US Departments of Agriculture and Commerce will award $7.2 billion to support advanced broadband infrastructure projects between August 2009 and September 2010.

Wisconsin’s plan (titled “Go Gig”) will lay the foundation for long-time prosperity by creating a sustainable statewide fiber optic infrastructure that interconnects community anchor institutions and then extends advanced broadband infrastructure into communities through fiber optic community area networks. A Federal award of approximately $100M will enable Wisconsin to extend the national backbone of the Internet deep into Wisconsin’s communities and interconnect community anchor institutions including schools, libraries, colleges, universities, municipalities, public safety agencies, healthcare providers and UW Extension’s community outreach offices. Building these community area networks, as well as connecting people in these communities, will create local jobs, deliver enhanced educational experiences, support research and development initiatives, and spur economic growth now and well into the future...