Keeping you up-to-date on what we are doing at the library. We invite you to join in the conversation!
SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
Menomonie Public Library part of state grant for broadband
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes $7.2 billion in competitive grants to help build the nation’s broadband infrastructure and improve broadband access to consumers and community anchor institutions, like K-12 schools and public libraries. On August 19 the State of Wisconsin, Department of Administration (DOA) submitted a $28.7 million grant application to bring fiber connectivity to the schools and public libraries that are on the BadgerNet network but still do not have fiber. The application includes: 74 school districts, 385 public libraries, and 8 higher education institutions. A decision on whether the application is funded will likely be made in November. If the grant is awarded, all public libraries in the state will receive 20Mbps broadband capacity at $100/month. Currently, over 90% oour libraries have less than 3Mbps. See the grant application’s Executive Summary (http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/btopgrantsum.pdf) for more information.
One of the important issues in providing consumers with broadband Internet access is that most states lack good information on where broadband is available and where it is not. The broadband funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes $300 million for states to develop comprehensive broadband maps. In Wisconsin the Public Service Commission (PSC) is the applicant agency for this mapping grant. The PSC will work with LinkAMERICA (http://www.linkamericaalliance.com) to produce accurate data and maps of broadband availability which will identify unserved and underserved areas in the state down to the specific census block level. No date has been given on when this mapping will be completed.
