The march is on to bring state-of-the-art fiber network to rural Dunn County! Broadband access has become critical to the health and wellbeing of Dunn County citizens, businesses, industries, and agriculture in the areas of communication, public safety, education, economic development, tourism, emergency management, entertainment, medical services, and usages being and yet to be developed. Due to new challenges of COVID-19 now more than ever Dunn County residents are faced with problematic issues regarding their new “work from home” lives, as well as navigating education for local students. High speed Internet breaks down the barriers of distance and time, allowing residents of rural areas to participate in economic and civic life far beyond their geographic region, however, without it residents can be disadvantaged.
For that reason, Bloomer Telephone Company applied for the Broadband Expansion Grant Program with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC). PSC is an independent regulatory agency dedicated to serving the public interest. The agency is responsible for the regulation of Wisconsin public utilities, including those that are municipally owned, since 1907. Out of 71 other grant applications that were approved Bloomer Telephone Company was awarded grant money towards their latest expansion into the Colfax area. This project will build a fiber to the premises service past 2 businesses and 330 residential homes and locations in the Town of Colfax in Dunn County. This project will allow fast fiber Internet to another 65 miles in the area and generate top notch communication made possible by broadband technology. Further allowing businesses in isolated areas to compete with their big-city counterparts.
Ultimately, the numerous economic and social advantages enabled by the availability of high speed Internet in rural areas benefits the entire state of Wisconsin and beyond. CCEDC would like to congratulate Bloomer Telephone Company for their extensive work in helping assist our rural citizens and by beginning the process of state-of-the-art fiber network to rural Dunn County!