The WVMA is among the nearly two dozen agricultural groups representing the state’s agricultural producers, processors and business leaders applauding Governor Tony Evers’ focus on broadband accessibility and affordability in the 2021-23 state budget process. Evers proposed a $200 million broadband investment in his budget address on February 16. Evers dubbed 2021 the “Year of Broadband Access” in his January State of the State Address, following his July 2020 launch of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access.
Approximately 394,000 Wisconsinites lack broadband access, with 98% of them living in rural parts of the state, according to the Federal Communications Commission 2021 Broadband Deployment Report. Still more rural residents face the challenge of inadequate internet speeds and unreliable connections.
