Aug. 8, Bringing Broadband To Rural Wisconsin

Although reliable internet access is increasingly vital to a thriving society, state figures show that less than half of rural residents in central and northern Wisconsin have access to high speed internet. Shereen Siewert welcomes Steve Bauder, director of engineering for the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board; Phil Hejtmanek, who served on the Joint Committee on Rural Broadband; and Stacey Johnson, executive director of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation to discuss ongoing efforts to improve broadband access in our area, especially in rural areas.

Johnson and Hejtmanek will describe Oneida County’s efforts to build towers to expand high-speed internet that will serve around 90 percent of county residents and discuss the impact those efforts have had on local businesses and individuals, while Bauder will talk about the ways in which communities can use improved broadband access to promote economic development.