Wisconsin PSC Awards $750,000 for Telecommunications Access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2025 Contact: Meghan Sovey, 608-266-9600 meghan.sovey1@wisconsin.gov PSC Awards $750,000 from USF Grant Programs to Expand Access and Affordability of Telecommunications Services in Wisconsin MADISON – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced the award of $750,000 to non-profit and higher-learning entities that will help people in Wisconsin access essential telecommunications services. The Commission awarded a total of 19 grants from the 2025 rounds of the Nonprofit Access Grant Program and the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program, both of which are funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF was created to promote and assist with the availability and affordability of telecommunications services in Wisconsin. “We received many strong applications in the 2025 rounds of the Nonprofit Access and Lifeline Outreach Grant Programs,” said PSC Chairperson Summer Strand. “The Commission’s decision to award funding to a large number of entities throughout the state will expand the reach and impact of these important programs and help ensure more people have access to critical telecommunications services and devices.” The PSC awarded $500,000 from the Nonprofit Access Grant Program to 14 nonprofit organizations to help provide access to telecommunications services for low-income households and persons with a disability. Additional information about the Nonprofit Access Grant Program is available here. The PSC awarded $250,000 from the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program to fund five projects to increase participation in the Lifeline Program, which provides eligible households discounts on the cost of phone, cellphone, and internet services. Four non-profit organizations received funding under the Outreach and Education track to improve outreach and raise awareness of the Lifeline Program, while one institution of higher education received funding under the Research and Resource track to develop a ready-to-use digital toolkit that addresses barriers to accessing affordable telecommunication services. Additional information about the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program is available here. ###

NONPROFIT ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS (5-NF-2025) For Commission Meeting 05/01/2025 minutes Grant Applicant AWARD Benedict Center, Inc. $44,906.00 Beyond Vision Inc. * * $60,443.86 Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area $18,675.00 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee $48,950.00 Boys & Girls Clubs of the Bay & Lakes Region $21,300.00 Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin $29,700.00 Friends of Appleton Library, Incorporated $20,200.62 Green County Development Corporation $10,771.52 Hmong Autism Neurodiverse Disability Support $25,000.00 JustDane, Inc. $6,000.00 Literacy Network, Inc. $42,000.00 United Way Greater Chippewa Valley $36,450.00 United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County $83,803.00 Vision Forward Association $51,800.00 Total $500,000.00 *Partially funded

LIFELINE OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS (5-LLG-2025) For Commission Meeting 5/22/2025 minutes Grant Applicant AWARD 211 Wisconsin Inc* $63,757.00 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System (Track 2) $44,863.00 East Madison Community Center Inc $26,380.00 Employment Resources, Inc. $80,000.00 Independence First* $35,000.00 Total $250,000.00 *Partially funded.