You have heard me talk about how the internet, specifically high-speed internet, is no longer a luxury but a core utility. Having this infrastructure in place is essential for economic growth, access to education and healthcare, and overall quality of life and communication. The federal government created the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) Program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address gaps in this critical service.
Many local partners, including Winnebago County, NEW North, and our organization, have been working through the process to secure funding through this program. As a result, our county is receiving more than $5.5 million in funding to serve an additional 2,300 homes and business locations that are currently underserved by existing infrastructure. You can see a full report on the proposed funding for Winnebago County here.
Regional development efforts were included as part of the Thriving Economy initiative to be able to capitalize on opportunities like this. We are excited to see this funding put to work and to help ensure our broader community is digitally connected and competitive. Thank you to all the partners for their efforts to bring this funding to us locally!
Sincerely,
Tricia Rathermel, President & CEO
