State Senator Dale Schultz hears that question daily and in response helped form a regional economic development effort to make broadband internet service available to 'the last mile' of rural Wisconsin. The goal of extending broadband statewide took on new hope with the federal stimulus package that includes 7.2-billion dollars in grants, loans, and loan guarantees to extend broadband to un-served and underserved areas. Among them include Dave Bangert of Reedsburg, owner of Wi-Connect Wireless, submitted a proposal that would extend wireless internet service throughout Sauk and Richland Counties. Bangert's system currently serves areas of western Sauk and into Richland County. Hilbert Communications of Green Bay submitted a plan to extend wireless broadband to 26-rural counties including the entire southwest region. Under a plan with Sauk County....Hilbert may build-off the County's public safety system of nine towers linked by fiber optic cable. Hilbert told a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter that 'with or without stimulus money, we are pursuing broadband in rural areas'. The Reedsburg Utility Commission submitted a Reedsburg fiber optic network expansion plan to extend advanced communications service to rural areas having limited dial-up internet access.
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