Following months of public outreach and stakeholder engagement, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) released a draft Digital Equity Plan for public comment. Once approved by the PSC, the Digital Equity Plan will guide the state’s strategy to improve digital equity, ensuring all in Wisconsin have the skills, devices, and broadband service necessary to fully participate in society and the economy. The public comment period for Wisconsin's draft plan closes on October 19, 2023.

Governor Laura Kelly (D-KS) announced the release of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2. As part of the planning process, the public is invited to submit comments on the planning document. Together with the BEAD 5-Year Action Plan, Volumes 1 and 2 will help identify areas of need for high-speed internet buildout across the state and outline requirements for applicants to access grant funding.  Volume 2 outlines defined objectives for broadband infrastructure projects, transparent subgrantee selection processes, and the active participation of eligible entities, all aimed at providing affordable broadband service options to residents. Additional components of Volume 2 include: 

• Plans for equipping the workforce with the necessary skills and resources to support broadband infrastructure development 
• Initiatives to promote the inclusion of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in broadband projects 
• Strategies for identifying and mitigating cost-related barriers to broadband deployment 
• Consideration of the environmental impact of broadband projects and efforts to minimize their carbon footprint 
• An outline of the regulatory approach to be taken by eligible entities in support of broadband infrastructure development 

Public comments on Volume 2 can be submitted online here until November 12, 2023. 

Overall satisfaction among wireless internet customers (5G or 4G LTE home internet) averages 748 (on a 1,000-point scale), while overall satisfaction among wired (fiber and cable) and satellite internet customers averages notably lower (712 and 577, respectively) according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study. These differences are primarily driven by gaps in satisfaction with the cost of internet service, with cost satisfaction among wireless customers averaging more than 90 points above those of wired customers and nearly 190 points above those of satellite internet customers. With an average monthly cost at $79, satisfaction with cost of service is significantly higher among wireless customers than wired customers, who have an average cost of $72, suggesting that cost alone is not the only determinant of satisfaction. Verizon ranks highest in the East region for an 11th consecutive year, with a score of 760. AT&T ranks highest in the North Central region with a score of 726, followed by CenturyLink (709) and Xfinity (707). Google Fiber ranks highest in the South region with a score of 839. AT&T ranks second (753) and Frontier Communications (738) ranks third. AT&T ranks highest in the West region with a score of 732, followed by Frontier Communications (716) and Xfinity (712).