If you live in some areas of rural Pierce County, your internet could be improving soon.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced today that it received 124 applications requesting more than $62 million in the most recent round of funding in the State Broadband Expansion Grants program. The applications seek to fund projects that will expand high-speed broadband internet access to underserved areas of the state. This is the second round of funding appropriated in the 2019-2021 state biennial budget and the highest request for broadband expansion grants in the state's history. Since last year, the PSC has received more than $112 million in requests to fund the expansion of broadband internet.

Several local projects were among the grant applications:

Midcontinent Communications Ellsworth cable project, $83,169. Description: Extend plant from Ellsworth to provide wireline, high-speed internet to two neighborhoods along 510th Street and 710th Street. One neighborhood is west of Ellsworth in the town of Trimbelle, and the other is south of Ellsworth.

Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services Beldenville Feber Project, $473,273. Description: Project will provide gigabit level download/upload speeds to areas south of River Falls along Highway 65 through Beldenville, WI including laterals on several county and town roads. The total project will serve a total of 242 locations which are primarily residential, agriculture and small businesses.

Bella Vinez fiber project, $376,400. Description: Project will provide FTTH/FTTx to 103 current premises with the possibility of an additional 30 services upon completion of subdivision. This project starts on County Rd M just west of River Falls on 1090th St south to 840th Ave to County Road F, including some additional laterals.

Trimbelle fiber project, $425,128. Description: oject will provide FTTH/FTTx to 312 homes and businesses. This project area is west of Ellsworth, WI along US Hwy 10 with laterals running north and south. This area is underserved and is mostly comprised of residential, agriculture, and small businesses.

Hager Telecom

Towns of Trenton and Hartland Cylon fiber project, $307,686. Description: Proposing a FTTP expansion in Trenton and Hartland. This is an extension of previously awarded 2016, 2928 and 2019 Diamond Bluff projects.

'Once again, we received an overwhelming response demonstrating an immense need for funding to provide broadband service. This spring we will decide which projects to fund, but clearly, there is a pattern of higher demand for these grants than what is available', said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. 'Governor Evers' commitment to connect all of our residents is unwavering and I want to thank him for this investment.'

'We hear from folks around the state about the need for access to high-speed internet. COVID-19 has underscored this demand and the need to continue to support broadband grant funding, as well as all other alternatives to get people connected,' said Governor Tony Evers. 'Our investments are connecting people, but the demand for funding is clearly outpacing supply, so we look forward to continuing our work to expand access to broadband across Wisconsin.'

The 2019-2021 biennial budget, which Governor Evers signed last year, provided $48 million over the biennium for broadband expansion grants. While the Governor’s original budget proposal included over $78 million for broadband, $48 million remains an historic investment.

The broadband expansion grants help find a path to return on investment in areas of the state that are challenging to serve due to population density. Since 2014, 210 grants have been awarded and have connected or are in the process of connecting over 7,000 businesses and 117,000 homes to high-speed broadband internet service._ The PSC’s State Broadband Office made the second round of grant applications available on September 1, 2020 and were due on December 1, 2020. For the first round of funding, the PSC received 143 applications requesting $50.3 million. In March of 2020, the PSC awarded 72 grants to extend high-speed broadband internet access to as many as 3,182 businesses and 46,537 homes, including 39,778 locations currently unserved. The PSC is expected to award the remaining $24 million in grants by spring of 2021.