Gov. Walker Announces New Contract to Expand Broadband
Last Tuesday, Governor Walker traveled to Southern Door County High School to announce the state’s new contract with AT&T and its partners to increase broadband speeds on the BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN). The move is set to save tax payers nearly $8 million annually.
“Faster, more reliable access to the internet is crucial as our state continues to move into the 21st century,” Governor Walker stated in his press release on Tuesday. “The new broadband contract we’re announcing today dramatically improves the quality of service to users. Schools and local governments throughout Wisconsin will have the ability to utilize this contract and potentially save money. Ultimately, this enhances the quality of education for our students, as well as the quality of local government services for our taxpayers.”
The BCN has provided state government and educational entities with a state wide network for the past 21 years. Reaching all 72 counties, the network delivers wide area network, internet transport, and video applications to state technical colleges, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school, private colleges, and charter schools.
Those currently using BCN including state agency customers and the Technology for Education Achievement (TEACH) program, will experience a seven percent savings on their service rate when the deal takes effect on November 1, 2016. In February, customers will move over to the newest BCN which will deliver an increased bandwidth at the new negotiated lower cost.