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Public Service Commission awards $500,000 in nonprofit access grants to 14 projects across Wisconsin
Summary
The Public Service Commission on May 1 awarded $500,000 from the Universal Service Fund nonprofit access grant program to 14 projects (ranked 1–9 and 11–15), prioritizing geographic reach and number of people served; one large $200,000 request was skipped because it would have consumed nearly half the round’s funding.
The Public Service Commission on May 1 awarded $500,000 in Universal Service Fund nonprofit access grants to projects selected under Alternative 2, funding applications ranked 1–9 and 11–15 and declining to fund application number 10 as presented.
Chairperson Strand outlined the program and said the round was intended “to facilitate affordable access to essential services” for low-income customers, customers with disabilities and customers in relatively high-cost areas. The commission received 19 applications requesting $1,039,126.89; after a staff-initiated cure process to address eligibility issues, 18 applications were deemed eligible and scored by a review panel using five merit categories.
The commission emphasized geographic and population diversity when selecting awards. The 14 recommended projects provide services in Milwaukee and Dane counties, northern and northeastern counties including Brown, Door and Marathon, the Fox Valley, southeast counties including Waukesha, Washington, Ozaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Walworth, south and south-central counties including Green, Columbia, Monroe and Sauk, Chippewa County in western Wisconsin and one project with statewide reach.
Chairperson Strand and commissioners said the selection prioritized “the broadest impact for unique populations, geographic locations, and the number of people served.” Populations cited in the discussion included individuals with visual impairments, members of the Hmong community and people with autism and neurodiverse abilities, people reentering the community after incarceration, low-income youth, job seekers, entrepreneurs and learners who lack devices, connectivity or digital skills.
Commissioners discussed a high-cost request from one applicant (ranked 10) that sought $200,000—almost half the total available for the round. Commissioners said that application had a limited geographic reach and that reducing the $200,000 request might render the project nonviable; for those reasons they preferred funding more projects with broader reach under Alternative 2.
Action: A motion to award Universal Service Fund nonprofit grants consistent with commission discussion was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The commission instructed staff to implement awards consistent with the ranked scoring and funding decisions under Alternative 2 and to document award amounts and match requirements in the grant files.
The commission thanked staff for an early “cure” process that allowed applicants to fix eligibility issues before final scoring; commissioners said that process increased the number of viable applications (6 of 7 flagged applications cured; only 1 remained ineligible) and improved the competitiveness of the round.
The commission adjourned after concluding the award decisions.
