MONROE — Green County Development Corporation recently secured more than $414,000 to bring efficient internet infrastructure to rural areas of the county.
The grant, which requires a matched $631,000 in pledged funds, would be a public-private partnership between GCDC and Bug Tussel Wireless LLC of Green Bay. GCDC Executive Director Cara Carper said the company planned to place infrastructure in the county, but thanks to additional funding, workers can extend towers into remote areas.
“I think their heart is in the right place,” Carper said.
Areas with extended coverage encompass Clarno, Martintown, Cadiz, Oakley, Spring Grove and York Center. The four towers will encompass southern portions near the state line and the northwest corner of the county east of Blanchardville.
Carper said access to broadband wireless will be available to Green County residents unless they “live in the lowest, low valley.”
Broadband infrastructure has been a talking point for a number of state lawmakers. On April 12, the office of the governor announced $7.68 million was awarded in broadband expansion grants “to connect 46 rural communities” by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. According to the release, it is the largest round of broadband expansion grants in state history. Bug Tussel was also given grants for roughly $471,000 for projects in Dane, Rock, Dodge and Juneau counties.
According to the company website, the subsidiary of Hilbert Communications plans to bring “the best of technology to rural Wisconsin.”
Four towers will be equipped through the Green County project to provide fixed wireless services in addition to 16 sites that were previously planned by the wireless company.
Of the 16 sites Bug Tussel plans to have fully operational by the end of the year, six were ready for use in mid-February, including Brodhead, Browntown, Juda, Monticello, New Glarus and Towns Road. Another six in progress at that point included east Monroe, set to be completed by March; Belleville, planned for completion in April; and Albany, set to be done this month. The other three are Exeter, set to be done in August and Postville and Prairie View, both slated for completion in September.
Bug Tussel plans to acquire three sites by the end of the year: north Browntown, and north and downtown Monroe.
“This now allows Bug Tussel to continue its mission of leveling the broadband playing field in rural Wisconsin,” a release from Bug Tussel reads regarding the award of “one of the largest grants awards ever given to one company” from the WPSC.