Editor’s note: This is the first in a five-part series highlighting the need for broadband internet expansion in Pierce County.

Much like electricity was a necessity for rural areas in the 1930s, the need for quality, high-speed broadband internet access in Pierce County can no longer be ignored. When the world as we knew it stopped nearly two years ago, the need to be able to work, study and conduct business from home was pushed to the forefront. Wisconsinites require quality broadband internet access in the 21st Century just as mid-20th Century residents required electricity.

An urgency has been created with the recent release of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which will deliver $350 billion to state, local, territorial and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and lead recovery efforts. As part of this effort, Pierce County will receive $8,304,463 for local, eligible initiatives that fall within four key eligible use categories as defined by the U.S. Department of The Treasury.

Key objectives of the funding include:

•Fight the pandemic and support families and businesses struggling with its public health and economic impacts

•Maintain vital public services, even amid declines in revenue resulting from the crisis

•Build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity. Two local nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations have joined forces to keep

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Juliet Tomkins

Katie Pata

Bringing Rural Areas into the Digital Age No Farm Left Behind

From Page 1

broadband expansion at the forefront of the Pierce County ARPA AdHoc Committee as it decides how to appropriate Pierce County’s funds. ARPA funds specifically authorize allocation for broadband expansion, according to the Wisconsin County Association Guidance. Given these facts, the two organizations have joined together to advocate for affordable, reliable and sustainable broadband internet access for all of Pierce County.

Western Wisconsin Needs Broadband (WWNB), founded by town of River Falls resident Katie Pata in October 2020, is a nonprofit, non-partisan citizen advocacy organization that believes quality internet access is essential for quality of life and economic prosperity, and advocates for reliable, affordable and sustainable broadband internet access to all living and working in Western Wisconsin.

Pierce County Grassroots Organizing (PCGRO), led by town of Martell resident Juliet Tomkins, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to empowering and supporting Pierce County residents in improving quality of life by accomplishing community projects that meet local needs and by strengthening democracy. Founded in October 2019, the group has recently held community conversations to learn what issues are most important to Pierce County residents. Among the top issues is better access to affordable, reliable and sustainable broadband internet.

In a letter to Pierce County Board Supervisors dated Oct. 26, 2021, Pata and Tomkins shared the following beliefs:

•21st century Wisconsin requires quality broadband internet access, just as mid-20th century Wisconsin required electricity.

•Broadband internet has become an essential service, and is vital to quality of life and economic prosperity.

•Access to affordable, reliable and sustainable broadband internet is critical to all residents and businesses in Pierce County, not just a privilege to those who live or work in the right locations.

•Time is of the essence: It will never be easier or more affordable for Pierce County to invest in broadband infrastructure than it is right now. Broadband internet build-out grant funding is currently available from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC). Providing Pierce County ARPA funding allocated for broadband infrastructure as local match, strengthens PSC grant applications, which is crucial to grant funding success.

WWNB

One reason Pata founded WWNB was to consolidate everyone’s broadband stories in one, efficient place, where legislators could find testimonies and feedback as they work toward broadband solutions. The forum, a Facebook discussion group/page, is open to the public.

“It’s a place of refuge,” Pata said. While not a gripe group, it is a place where people can share their frustration and anger, find validation and share resources and solutions. Why is internet connectivity so important? Well, the pandemic brought those reasons to the forefront, Pata said. It’s essential for quality of life and economic prosperity.

“This is a hard concept to understand,” Pata acknowledged last summer. “It’s hard to understand options, especially when you’re worried about switching contracts or expensive start-up costs with hardware.”

The pandemic shifted the pulse in the community, she said. From “Haha, welcome to western Wisconsin where the internet is terrible” to a traumatic, desperate situation where people couldn’t function in the stay-at-home situations they were thrown into.

The group is also a way to “move the needle” on the pipe dream of high-speed internet, Pata said. Much of her time has been spent educating residents and townships about Broadband Forward certification, which allows a municipality to pass an ordinance expressing their support for accessible, affordable broadband. This action could help grant applications rise to the top when seeking broadband funding.

“My hope is that this is an effort that will gain momentum,” Katie said. “I’m in it for the larger picture. It’s been fast and furious. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. People want to celebrate!”

Pata admitted she literally cried tears of joy when Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services announced the start of SwiftCurrent Connect, its new broadband fiber internet service. “It’s my hope others in positions to help make changes will follow in PPCS’ bold footsteps in whatever ways they can, to answer the bell and finally bring fiber internet, now more than ever an essential service, to all underserved areas,” Pata said.

To do that, internet providers have the opportunity to apply for grants, and those applications are strengthened when municipalities appropriate ARPA funds or show support for broadband expansion. On Feb. 22, the Pierce County Board approved a resolution in support of broadband infrastructure expansion and

availability.

PCGRO

PCGRO, led by Tomkins, includes 50 highly committed volunteers and a network of 400 volunteers who wish to be updated about PCGRO’s efforts and participate when they feel compelled.

Tomkins wanted to find a way for people to be able discuss issues in a time when people were and are divided. Her goal is to empower people to be able to have difficult conversations while focusing on facts.

“We ask people to talk and think about their values as it relates to education, the environment, community development, health care, access to health care, and look at what candidates are saying about those things,” Tomkins said. “It was a way of having those conversations to talk and discuss, find venues and opportunities to bridge differences.”

Tomkins, a 35-year Pierce County resident who raised her children on a grass-fed beef farm, was disheartened by people not being able to talk to each other and work on community problems.

“Things were becoming more and more divisive,” she said.

Her background in community organizing in higher education gave her skills she felt are valuable for starting these conversations, for helping people make changes they want to see. She spoke with many people before launching PCGRO, all of whom expressed a desire for the ability to have civil discourse on topics that resonate with them. A group committed to taking community organizing training and they were off and running.

The organization has a staff of several people who have identified two pillars for the organization: Community projects and strengthening democracy in the form of voter education and voter registration from a non-political party perspective based on values.

Tomkins explained PCGRO is working in collaboration with WWNB because they have a common goal: To keep broadband expansion in front of the Pierce County Board as ARPA funds are appropriated. A number of people from both organizations have spoken during meeting public comment time to tell their stories about why broadband is important to them.

The organizations have also been advocating for local townships to become Broadband Forward certified. Created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 2015, Broadband Forward! Is a voluntary program for local units of government (city, village, town or county) to signal that they have taken steps to reduce obstacles to broadband infrastructure investment by passing an ordinance. Locally, the towns of Kinnickinnic, Ellsworth, Martell and Gilman have become Broadband Forward certified, with more in the works, Tomkins said.

“It’s been an education process all the way up the ladder,” Tomkins said.

She spoke about a Martell woman who reached out to her to ask what she can do. The woman eventually spoke to her town board and advocated for the Broadband Forward ordinance, which passed before a packed house.

Tomkins said broadband is one of those things that people don’t think about much if they have it. If they have fast, reliable and affordable internet, they might not realize how many people in Pierce County don’t.

Tomkins was excited to see the Pierce County Board pass the resolution in support of broadband expansion, but says they’re not over the finish line.

“We just need to be sure that we keep pounding the drum for making sure that does happen,” Tomkins said. “ARPA funds are a very unique potential infusion of capital into a rural community like ours. It’s important to capitalize on those funds and have the actual installations go in. Many people have their hearts in the right places, but they must be kept apprised of the urgency of it, especially when they aren’t the ones personally impacted.”

What can you do?

Tomkins said deadlines for state grant applications are quickly approaching, so it’s important to stay apprised of those deadlines and prod people who are lagging in a sense of urgency. Once the funds are distributed, they’re gone. She urges Pierce County residents to contact their individual board supervisors about the importance of broadband.

It's important to note, Tomkins said, that some people who have internet in the county are paying exorbitant prices for poor quality services, which are not sustainable nor available everywhere.

If you're someone directly affected by lack of internet service, lack of high-speed internet, quality, or affordable options, or if you're an advocate (someone not directly affected but sees the value, economic impact and equity broadband internet access brings), reach out to Editor Sarah Nigbor at [email protected] news or 715-307-0366 to share your story in our article series. You can also share your story on WWNB’s Facebook discussion page or at https://piercecountygro.org/broadband/