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Wisconsin could receive up to $1.2B to expand broadband coverage where service is lacking

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Wisconsin could receive up to .2B to expand broadband coverage where service is lacking


Authorities and business stakeholders met Tuesday to debate how Wisconsin can greatest spend as much as $1.2 billion the state could obtain for increasing high-speed web. The funding comes as round 1.3 million folks in Wisconsin nonetheless can’t entry or afford broadband service.

Wisconsin may obtain wherever from $700 million to $1.2 billion as a part of grants accessible by the Broadband Fairness, Entry & Deployment, or BEAD, Program. The $42.45 billion program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure regulation, which put aside $65 billion to increase broadband web nationwide.

This system is amongst a number of funding alternatives introduced by the Nationwide Telecommunications and Info Administration, or NTIA, underneath the U.S. Division of Commerce. It’s a part of President Joe Biden’s “Web for All” initiative introduced in Could, and Wisconsin will obtain a minimal of $100 million underneath the regulation.

“This funding will go to assist construct out broadband networks to be sure that individuals who reside notably in rural areas have entry to high-speed web,” stated Kevin Gallagher, senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. “We additionally anticipate that funding can be utilized for digital literacy and adoption actions, affordability applications to assist households in Wisconsin who’re struggling to pay their web invoice.”

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Gallagher is amongst authorities, tribal and business officers who took half in a workshop in Stevens Level hosted by NTIA and the Wisconsin Public Service Fee or PSC. The workshop is a part of efforts to develop a statewide five-year plan for funding. The Federal Communications Fee, or FCC, will award cash to states based mostly on the variety of unserved and underserved residents.

In Wisconsin, round 650,000 residents lack entry to high-speed web or speeds of 25 megabits per second obtain and three megabits per second add. The Wisconsin Broadband Workplace additionally estimates one other 650,000 folks statewide can’t afford broadband.

“We will construct out networks to all of Wisconsin, but when households cannot afford to join the web, these networks will go unused,” Gallagher stated. “So, affordability is a core piece of the ‘Web for All’ initiative.”

The bipartisan infrastructure regulation put aside $14.2 billion for the Inexpensive Connectivity Program, which lowers web payments by as much as $30 per 30 days for eligible households. On tribal lands, clients may see payments reduce by as much as $75 per 30 days. Households with an revenue at or beneath 200 % of federal poverty tips are eligible for the low cost, and other people can enroll on-line.

The White Home estimates 849,000 households may obtain the profit statewide. Thus far, round one third, or roughly 276,000 households, have enrolled in this system, based on the nonprofit Common Administrative Service Co. that oversees funding.

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Below the BEAD program, unserved areas are prioritized to entry grants in the event that they lack web or solely have entry to speeds of 25/3 megabits per second, which is sufficient for fundamental video streaming. Underserved areas which have speeds of 100/20 megabits per second would additionally qualify for funding. Talking with Wisconsin Public Radio this summer season, PSC Chair Rebecca Valcq stated the definition of satisfactory speeds for broadband web shifted as folks started working or studying from dwelling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“The info that is getting used and must be uploaded and downloaded has elevated by greater than 30 % for the reason that begin of the pandemic, which demonstrates the 25/3 (megabits per second) is just not going to be enough to maintain folks linked in the best way that they want connectivity now in 2022,” Valcq stated. “In order that signifies that a few of these {dollars} are going to must be deployed to deliver service up from the place it presently sits.”

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Wisconsin’s share of funding might be based mostly on FCC maps, which have been criticized for holding incomplete information. Till not too long ago, the FCC has been accumulating information on the variety of folks served by census blocks. If even one particular person had high-speed web inside a block, your complete census tract was thought of to have entry to broadband protection.

Web service suppliers have been updating that information with federal regulators. For the primary time, Gallagher stated new maps will painting protection on the family stage, and he expects these maps might be up to date in November. States could have the flexibility to problem the accuracy of the FCC’s information.

“We’ve got to make sure that we all know precisely who’s getting the service, in any other case, we’ll depart folks behind,” Valcq advised WPR.

Wisconsin can also be set to obtain as much as $30 million over the following 5 years underneath a state capability grant program by the Digital Fairness Act. This system goals to offer broadband entry for all, together with communities of coloration, folks residing with disabilities, and incarcerated people. The state expects to be taught its share of federal funding early subsequent 12 months. 

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program additionally obtained $2 billion extra underneath the infrastructure regulation. This system has already awarded $1 billion to greater than 90 tribes like Crimson Cliff and Lac du Flambeau, based on Theron Rutyna, a program officer and former member of the governor’s broadband job pressure.

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“Hopefully, we will bridge not solely the digital divide for Indian nation, however for all of Wisconsin,” stated Rutyna.

Workers with the PSC estimate it might value as much as $1.4 billion to attach all residents to high-speed web, based on the state’s Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Wisconsin has already awarded greater than $300 million over the previous decade for broadband enlargement, together with $105 million in COVID-19 reduction.

The Legislative Audit Bureau launched a report in September that raised issues about spending oversight of COVID-19 funds to increase broadband service. The report stated the PSC ought to set up written insurance policies and enhance the way it opinions and awards grants. In a letter, Valcq disputed among the audit’s findings. She famous the audit discovered no unallowable bills, including the NTIA rated the state’s applications as “greatest at school” for clear documentation within the utility and award course of.



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Wisconsin RB enters transfer portal. NCAA waiver gives senior another year of eligibility

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Wisconsin RB enters transfer portal. NCAA waiver gives senior another year of eligibility


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MADISON – A recent court ruling has opened the door for former junior college players to gain another year of NCAA eligibility.

It appears that Tawee Walker is going to take advantage of the opportunity.

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According to On3, Wisconsin’s senior running back will enter the transfer portal in search of a home for next season. The news came one day after the NCAA approved a blanket waiver granting one more year of eligibility to athletes who competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years and would have otherwise exhausted their eligibility during the 2024-25 school year.

Walker fits the bill. He played the the 2021 season at Palomar College. a junior college in San Marcos, California, before competing for Oklahoma in 2022 and ’23 and Wisconsin this season. The NCAA counts his junior college season towards his four years of college eligibility.

The waiver stems from a case brought forward by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. A Tennessee court ruled that counting the two seasons he played at a junior college toward his NCAA eligibility violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Walker, a 5-foot-9, 218-pound Las Vegas native, led the Badgers with 864 yards in 190 carries, a 4.5-yard average, and scored 10 touchdowns.

He begin the season sharing the No. 1 tailback role with Chez Mellusi and blossomed after Mellusi took what proved to be a permanent leave Oct. 3.

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As Wisconsin’s primary ball carrier Walker ran for 718 yards in 152 carries, a 4.7-yard average, with nine touchdowns.

His best stretch was a three-game run against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern when he gained 418 yards in 66 carries, a 6.3-yard average, and scored six times.



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2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties

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2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties


2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties

Wisconsin football saw its season end without bowl practices for the first time since 2001. The Badgers hit a new low this century in year two of the Luke Fickell era, and will face a critical get-right year in 2025.

Over the next two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will examine the 2024 Badgers position by position. Today, we’ll wrap up the series with the safeties, a unit that helped anchor a strong defensive backfield in 2024.

POSITIONAL REVIEWS: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Outside Linebackers | Inside Linebackers | Cornerbacks

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2024 HIGH: Preston Zachman’s continued development

Redshirt senior Preston Zachman continued his development into a highly reliable safety in 2024, and even better news? He’s coming back next fall.

Zachman became somewhat of a surprise starter alongside Hunter Wohler last season, but he played well in the process, displaying his football IQ and a knack for being in the right place in the right time. He continued to take steps in a positive direction this season, posting a career-best stat-line of 58 total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

The safety has a penchant for making routine plays routinely. He missed just six tackles on 753 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also surrendered just one touchdown across 366 coverage snaps. But Zachman can also make the big play. His most impressive rep of the season was likely his interception in Los Angeles, pictured above. In coverage against dynamic slot weapon Zachariah Branch, a matchup most would deem a mismatch, he blanketed the receiver, bodied him at the catch point, reeled in the interception and talked smack in the star pass-catcher’s face after the whistle.

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The ball skills he displayed were impressive, but it was also a clinic in technique and positioning. Zachman is one of the most fundamentally sound players on Mike Tressel‘s defense, and his return for 2025 is massive for a secondary that figures to be relatively inexperienced and also just lost its best player in Wohler.

2024 LOW: Hunter Wohler vs. USC

Interestingly enough, one of Zachman’s best games (USC) was also one of Wohler’s worst. He gave up two touchdowns in the second half alone, helping the Trojans complete the comeback victory.

With time dwindling in the third quarter, USC faced a 3rd-and-7 from the Badgers eight yard-line. Wisconsin sent six pass-rushers after Trojans’ quarterback Miller Moss, leaving five one-on-ones in coverage against a five wide look. That included Wohler on the 6-foot-6 wideout Duce Robinson.

Robinson ran a skinny post and simply boxed Wohler out to reel in a touchdown, looking like a forward pulling down a rebound over a guard. It’s hard to blame Wohler for giving up four inches of height to the physical specimen of a wideout, but still, the safety was directly responsible for that touchdown.

Wohler gave up a touchdown on the very next drive as well. The Trojans marched down the field in nine plays but were faced with a 4th-and-1 on the Badgers’ seven yard line. Moss ran a read option, and kept the ball with outside linebacker Aaron Witt crashing off the strong side. Wohler read the play well, and came face-to-face with Moss in the open field. If he made the tackle, it would’ve been a turnover on downs. Instead, Moss hit him with a filthy spin move, breaking the safety’s ankles and scoring a touchdown. Another straight-up mano a mano that Wohler lost resulting in a touchdown, on consecutive drives no less.

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ONE STORYLINE TO FOLLOW BEFORE THE 2025 SEASON: Which transfer nabs a starting role?

With the return of Zachman and Austin Brown, Wisconsin is in a solid spot at safety. The Badgers have two experienced starters, in addition to a plethora of young players including four true freshmen. Zachman and Brown both figure to be starters given their experience and solid play in 2024. But if we’ve learned anything about Tressel’s defense over the course of two seasons, it’s that he deploys three safeties frequently. Especially given the fact that Wisconsin figures to be inexperienced at cornerback with just four corners currently on the roster, safeties can be expected to play plenty of snaps.

The Badgers have signed two transfers at safety at the time of writing: Matthew Traynor (FCS Richmond) and Matt Jung (D-III Bethel). Traynor is a versatile safety who can line up anywhere, while Jung absolutely stuffed the stat-sheet at the D-III level. Both figure to get plenty of run behind Zachman and Brown. But which player looks more dynamic? Who appears to be adjusting to Big Ten competition better? Where in the alignment does either player line up? These will be critical questions to answer this spring and into fall camp.

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Wisconsin basketball receives votes in latest men’s AP, Coaches polls

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Wisconsin basketball receives votes in latest men’s AP, Coaches polls


Despite earning a 23-point win over Detroit Mercy, the Wisconsin men received fewer votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll Top 25s, which were released on Monday.

The Badgers (10-3, 0-2) stretched their win streak to two following three straight losses, which included two in Big Ten play. Wisconsin returns to league action on Friday, Jan. 3 when they welcome Iowa to Madison.

In the AP Poll, the Badgers picked up nine votes, as No. 25 Baylor received 125. In the Coaches Poll, Wisconsin got seven votes, with No. 25 Purdue receiving 73.

Oregon is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in both rankings, coming in at No. 9. Michigan State is 18th in both with Purdue No. 21 in the AP Poll followed by UCLA, with Illinois No. 24. In the Coaches Poll, UCLA is 21st, Illinois is 22nd and Purdue is 25th.

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Tennessee remained No. 1, receiving the majority of the first-place votes. SEC rival Auburn is second followed by Iowa State and Duke. 

Here is the college basketball men’s AP Coaches Poll Top 25 for Week 8:

(Dec. 23)

1. Tennessee (41)

2. Auburn (21)

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3. Iowa State

4. Duke

5. Alabama

6. Florida

7. Kansas

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8. Marquette

9. Oregon

10. Kentucky

11. Connecticut

12. Oklahoma

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13. Texas A&M

14. Gonzaga

15. Houston

16. Mississippi

17. Cincinnati

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18. Michigan State

19. Mississippi State

20. San Diego State

21. Purdue

22. UCLA

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23. Arkansas

24. Illinois

25. Baylor

Others receiving votes: Maryland 119, Dayton 108, Drake 91, St. John’s 90, Memphis 65, Michigan 50, Georgia 45, Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 26, Missouri 25, Ohio State 23, North Carolina 20, Clemson 18, Arizona State 13, Utah State 9, Wisconsin 9, Texas Tech 8, Indiana 8, St. Bonaventure 4, Penn State 3.

Dropped from rankings: Memphis 21, Dayton 22, Michigan 24, Clemson 25.

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Here is the college basketball men’s Coaches Poll Top 25 for Week 8:

(Dec. 23)

1. Tennessee (20)

2. Auburn (11)

3. Iowa State

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4. Duke

5. Florida

6. Alabama

7. Kansas

8. Marquette

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9. Oregon

10. Kentucky

11. Oklahoma

12. Houston

13. Texas A&M

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14. Connecticut

15. Gonzaga

16. Mississippi

17. Cincinnati

18. Michigan State

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19. Mississippi State

20. San Diego State

21. UCLA

22. Illinois

23. Baylor

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24. St. John’s

25. Purdue

Others receiving votes: Maryland 65; Michigan 52; Drake 51; Arkansas 51; Georgia 42; Clemson 40; Dayton 28; Memphis 25; Pittsburgh 22; Utah State 14; Texas Tech 9; Wisconsin 7; North Carolina 6; Missouri 6; West Virginia 5; Penn State 1.

Dropped from rankings: Michigan 21; Memphis 22; Dayton 24.



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