Committee hears broadband update: BEAD allocations, local awards and technology concerns

Marathon County’s Infrastructure Committee received an update on federal broadband funding and local deployment plans under the BEAD/BEED programs.

Supervisor Robinson summarized the federal allocation process and said the state submitted a plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that was approved in early December; he reported an estimated statewide cost to serve un/underserved locations at about $696.6 million and that Marathon County received provider awards totaling 7,788 locations split among Bug Tussle, SpaceX, Charter Spectrum, Wittenberg Telephone and Country Wireless. Robinson noted SpaceX was awarded a large number of locations using low‑Earth‑orbit satellites and cautioned those services typically have higher upfront and operating costs for customers compared with fiber.

Robinson said the state and federal agencies have debated program rules and that the leftover funds from initial awards could be used for workforce development, anchor institution connectivity, or affordability measures; the Public Service Commission will enter contracts with providers and awarded vendors will have four years to deploy. County staff said they are meeting with providers and reviewing alternatives, especially where providers have proposed changes to planned fiber loops.

Director Klein added that Bug Tussle has been working on fiber splices and the county hopes to light up certain connections in the next two months, while the county continues internal discussions on preferred technologies and timelines.

Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with providers, monitor PSC contracting and NTA listening sessions, and report deployment progress to the committee.