County to address rural internet gaps

The Dane County Board has voted unanimously to create a broadband task force that will investigate how to expand the county’s rural broadband infrastructure, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report. About 25% of the county’s rural residents say they lack access to reliable, affordable broadband. According to a recent report by OpenVault, as work, school, and social interactions have shifted to online platforms, internet usage has increased by as much as 50%. The task force will use data on rural broadband gaps and help towns and villages apply for federal or state grants to expand service. The improved broadband infrastructure could consist of telephone lines and fiber-optic cables.