Write a Letter to Support Rural Wood County Internet Access

OnFocus – As access to better internet service becomes more important than ever, a public-private partnership is working to bring broadband service to rural Wood County and the Southwest Wood County/Pittsville School District through two respective grants.

“The rural areas of Wood County are in desperate need of better internet service, and true broadband would be a blessing,” explained Mary Ann Lippert. “That’s why Wood County is partnering on submission of two funding applications to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.”

Both Wood County as a whole and Southwest Wood County/Pittsville School District Broadband are partnering with Bug Tussel Wireless, a fixed wireless provider, on a grant application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) for the purpose of providing broadband internet connectivity in rural Wood County.

The grant application review process takes into consideration community support for a project.

“We are actively seeking letters of support! A letter of support does not have to be anything complex. Simply state that access to better internet service is needed for your home, family, or business,” said Lippert. “Feel free to include specific stories of how better internet will be beneficial to you and your family or business.”

Sample letters of support are available HERE (Download Wood County) and HERE (Download South Wood County/Pittsville School District).

All letters should be scanned or emailed to MaryAnn Lippert, at [email protected] by November 15, 2020. If you prefer U.S. mail, send to 8182 Apple Road, Pittsville. All letters are being collected for submission as part of the funding application due December 1, 2020.

The first grant application is for Rural Wood County, which consists of areas outside of the City of Marshfield, and areas surrounding Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa and Port Edwards.

According to maps from the PSC, the majority of rural Wood County is classified as “underserved” regarding internet access. For many years, the townships surrounding Pittsville, Arpin, Auburndale, Vesper, Rudolph and Milladore have been challenged with access to adequate internet service. The recent pandemic situation in 2020 has only increased awareness of the underserved situation with students trying to learn virtually and businesses working from home. This grant application through Bug Tussel Wireless is an opportunity to improve services for these communities and future residents.

The second grant application is for Southwest Wood County/Pittsville School District, which has the largest area in the county that is classified as “unserved” and “underserved” regarding internet access.

For many years, the area surrounding Pittsville, Babcock, Dexterville and Veedum have been challenged with access to adequate internet service. The recent pandemic situation in 2020 has only increased awareness of the unserved and underserved situation with students trying to learn virtually and businesses working from home. This grant application through Bug Tussel Wireless is an opportunity to improve services for these communities and future residents.

To learn more, contact Lippert at [email protected].

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