Governor's policy director: Task force recommendations shape Wisconsin broadband funding and priorities

Jacob Pankritz, the governor's policy director, told the Governor's Task Force on Broadband Access on Nov. 19 that the panel's annual recommendations have played a direct role in shaping the governor's broadband agenda, particularly priorities such as fiber connectivity and affordability.

"The first example that I think of right away is a priority and focusing on fiber connections," Pankritz said, describing how task force input helped make fiber a priority in the state broadband grant program and in legislative proposals. He added that the governor has repeatedly proposed significant state funding for broadband — citing past proposals of $750,000,000 and $400,000,000 in recent biennial budgets — but said the legislature removed those proposals in recent cycles.

Pankritz summarized four ways the task force informs state policy: advising budget priorities; recommending program design for state grants; evaluating legislation that reaches the governor's desk (he cited Act 77 as an example of a law that updated the state's high‑speed definition); and promoting a holistic approach that pairs infrastructure with workforce development and anchor‑institution connectivity. "It's not just getting dollars out the door to put fiber in the ground," he said. "It's workforce and it's anchor institutions, connectivity."

Cara Panoyer, the Public Service Commission chief of staff, said PSC staff use the task force's recommendations as a "North Star" when preparing memos and options for commissioners. She described a delegated‑commissioner process for day‑to‑day broadband decisions and said the PSC has tried to keep affordability and the task force's priorities central amid rapid changes in federal BEAD rules.

The presentation included program‑level figures: Pankritz said the governor has allocated more than $345,000,000 in state and federal investments since 2019 and that roughly 410,000 homes and businesses gained new or improved internet because of those efforts. Both presenters emphasized continuing work on affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ended and noted that BEAD rule changes have altered federal affordability requirements.

Why it matters: The governor's office and the PSC told task force members they use the group's annual reports to guide budget requests, defense of program design, and recommendations to the governor. That places the task force in a continuing advisory role as Wisconsin plans to deploy BEAD and related state resources.

Next step: Task force members discussed follow‑up questions about affordability and legislative options; the group will reconvene Jan. 21, 2026.