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Marathon County supervisors hear preliminary BEAD broadband awards; 4-year buildout noted
Summary
Supervisor Robinson reported preliminary BEAD award allocations for Marathon County and said the plan will go to the federal review with a four-year buildout timeline; specific provider awards are preliminary and subject to a seven-day public comment period.
Supervisor Robinson reported to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission has released preliminary Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) awards that include locations in Marathon County.
“The Public Service Commission shared preliminary bead awards for the state, including Marathon County. And, they're they're in a public this week. There's a 7 day public comment period that began last Friday through, next Friday or this Friday,” Supervisor Robinson said during the board's educational reports segment. He added that after the comment period the plan will be submitted to the federal government and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for review, and that there is a four-year build-out timeline.
Robinson read preliminary location counts by provider reported in the Commission's release for parts of Marathon County: Bug Tussel Wireless, 3,316 locations; SpaceX, 3,009 locations; Spectrum, 1,221 locations; Wittenberg Telephone (or similar local carrier), 225 locations; and an entry listed as "Country wireless," 17 locations. Robinson noted the mix includes fixed wireless, some fiber and satellite services and that full details were not yet available.
The supervisor emphasized the preliminary nature of the numbers and next steps: a short public-comment window followed by federal review. Robinson said the county will share more information as it becomes available.
The board did not take formal action on the BEAD report during the meeting; the item was a briefing from a standing committee designee.
The county's report to the public followed the educational-presentation portion of the Aug. 26 meeting.
