Emergency Connectivity Fund Application Window Closing in 24 Days!

WEMTA is strongly encouraging all of our members to consider applying for Emergency Connectivity Funds available through the federal stimulus bill.  These funds are specifically meant to help schools and libraries support the remote learning needs for students and staff. Devices purchased through the program can be used off-campus! Schools have until August 13, 2021 to submit applications. 

How Much Funding is Available: $7.17 billion 

Who Can Apply: Schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries that are eligible for support under the FCC's E-Rate program.

Eligible Purchases: Laptops and tablets; Wi-Fi hotspots; Modems; Routers; Devices that Combine Modems and Routers. 

Timeframe from Purchases: This round of funding covers eligible purchases made between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

Application Deadline: August 13, 2021 

Where to Apply: https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/ 

Learn more: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund-faqs 

Governor Evers Signs Budget Bill into Law

 The following items of interest to WEMTA are included in the budget bill:

Governor Evers signed the 2021-23 state budget bill into law on Thursday, July 8, 2021. He made 50 partial vetoes to the bill as passed by the Legislature before signing it. Most significantly, Governor Evers vetoed a proposed $550 million lapse from the general fund to the budget stabilization fund and called on the Legislature to work with him to instead use these funds to address immediate needs of Wisconsinites. He also announced that he will be investing more than $100 million in federal stimulus into K-12 schools. 

You can see the Governor's full veto message here. 

The following items of interest to WEMTA are included in the budget as signed into law. 

WISELearn: Reduce funding for WISELearn by $150,000 in 2021-22 and by $200,000 in 2022-23. 

Library Service Contracts: Increase funding for the library service contracts by $12,900 in 2021-22 and by $25,300 in 2022-23 to fully fund the costs of the contracts. The following organizations receive library service contracts: the Milwaukee Public Library; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library; and the Cooperative Children's Book Center.

Public Library System Aid: Increase public library system aid by $2.5 million in 2021-22 and by $4 million in 2022-23. 

Wisconsin Reading Corps:  Increase funding for Wisconsin Reading Corps by $300,000 in 2021-22 and by an additional $1.3 million in 2022-23.

Governor's Task Force on Broadband Releases Final Report

The Governor's Task Force on Broadband Access released its final report this week. WEMTA Legislative Chair Emily Dittmar was a member of the Task Force. Thank you, Emily, for your service! 

"All Wisconsinites should have broadband sufficient to successfully participate in society, including but not limited to, health, economic, and educational opportunities," states the Task Force. 

According to the FCC, about 394,000 Wisconsinites currently lack access to broadband meeting the minimum speed goals of 25/3 Mbps. These estimates are likely underreported due to weaknesses in the current FCC mapping process. A study performed by BroadbandNow estimates that 670,592 Wisconsinites lack access to 25/3 broadband speeds. It is further estimated that about 10% of Wisconsin households do not have any type of computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, e-reader) in the home, and over 500,000 households do not have a desktop or laptop computer.  

The report makes the following recommendations.

Speed Goals and Timelines

• By 2025, all homes and businesses have access to broadband speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, and 50% have access to download speeds of 1 Gbps. Currently, only 17.7% of Wisconsin has access to 1 Gbps service speed.

• By 2028, all homes and business have access to broadband speeds of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. 

• By 2031, all homes and businesses have access to broadband speeds of 100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload, and 90% have access to downloads speeds of 1 Gbps.

Top Policy Recommendations, include:

• Increasing public-private partnerships that make use of public infrastructure to reach underserved areas by private providers. The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) Trust Fund Loan program is mentioned as an example of public funding for broadband infrastructure. 

• Increase Broadband Expansion Grant funding. A sub-recommendation lists continuing TEACH IT Funding.

• Collect internet access data from providers at the granular home and business level.

• Increase broadband consumer protections and price transparency.
  
  
• Establish a State Internet Assistance Program to address the issue of affordability. Currently, only 44% of Wisconsin residents have access to internet service at less than $60 per month. 

• Establish a statewide Digital Equity Fund run by a nonprofit to strengthen digital inclusion activities. 

• Create a statewide Digital Navigator to assist under-connected people in solving a wide-range of adoption issues. 

• Establish and support a coalition of willing, engaged broadband leaders to connect communities with providers, local and regional partners, planning and technical assistance opportunities, funding opportunities, and resources. 

• Create planning and implementation grants for regions and communities. 

More detailed recommendations can be found starting on page 23 of the report. 

Legislature Sends Budget Bill to Governor

Both houses of the Legislature passed the budget bill this week. It now heads to Governor Evers' desk. The Governor can sign the bill as is, make partial vetoes or veto it in its entirety. 

The following items of interest to WEMTA are included in the budget bill:

WISELearn: Reduce funding for WISELearn by $150,000 in 2021-22 and by $200,000 in 2022-23. 

Library Service Contracts: Increase funding for the library service contracts by $12,900 in 2021-22 and by $25,300 in 2022-23 to fully fund the costs of the contracts. The following organizations receive library service contracts: the Milwaukee Public Library; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library; and the Cooperative Children's Book Center.

Public Library System Aid: Increase public library system aid by $2.5 million in 2021-22 and by $4 million in 2022-23. 

Wisconsin Reading Corps:  Increase funding for Wisconsin Reading Corps by $300,000 in 2021-22 and by an additional $1.3 million in 2022-23.

Application Window Opens June 29 for Emergency E-Rate Funds!

The FCC has announced that the window to apply for the first round of federal emergency e-rate funding opens on June 29 at 9 a.m. and closes on August 13 at 11:59 p.m.

Funds provided by the Emergency Connectivity Fund will help schools and libraries purchase: laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connectivity. These devices can be used off-campus by students and staff!

During this initial application filing window, eligible schools and libraries may submit requests for funding for eligible equipment and services purchased between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

Learn more about the application process here: https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/application-process/

Joint Finance Committee Advances Budget to the Full Legislature

The Joint Finance Committee, the Legislature's powerful budget-writing committee, finished work on their version of the budget bill on June 17, and voted to advance it to the full Legislature. Before they wrapped up work on Thursday night, the Joint Finance Committee approved about $3.4 billion in tax cuts. They also increased general school aids by about $408 million  (under revenue limits) to meet the maintenance of effort requirements for federal K-12 stimulus funds. 

We expect the full State Assembly and full State Senate to act on the Joint Finance Committee's version of the budget bill during the week of June 28. After that, Governor Evers' will have the option to sign it as is, veto it in part or veto it in full. 

You can view a full breakdown of where items of interest to WEMTA stand in the Joint Finance Committee's budget here. 

We have also highlighted that status of several key items of interest below:

Remains in the Budget 

WISELearn: The Joint Finance Committee approved the Governor's proposal to reduce funding for WISELearn by $150,000 in 2021-22 and by $200,000 in 2022-23. 

Library Service Contracts: The Joint Finance Committee approved the Governor's proposal to increase funding for the library service contracts by $12,900 in 2021-22 and by $25,300 in 2022-23 to fully fund the costs of the contracts. The following organizations receive library service contracts: the Milwaukee Public Library; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library; and the Cooperative Children's Book Center. 

Public Library System Aid: The Joint Finance Committee approved the Governor's proposal to increase public library system aid by $2.5 million in 2021-22 and by $4 million in 2022-23. 

Wisconsin Reading Corps:  The Joint Finance Committee voted to add an additional $300,000 in 2021-22 and an additional $1.3 million in 2022-23 for the Wisconsin Reading Corps to the budget. The Governor had not proposed anything related to this item. 

Remains in the Budget but was Modified 

Broadband Expansion Grants: The Joint Finance Committee voted to modify Governor Evers' proposal to provide an additional $147.7 million in state funding to the Broadband Expansion Grant program to instead allow the State's Building Commission to authorize $125 million in state general fund-supported borrowing for Broadband Expansion Grants. 

Removed from Budget 

TEACH: Governor Evers proposed making several changes to the TEACH program in his budget, including extending the Information Technology Infrastructure Block Grant Program for schools and libraries through June 30,2025, at $3 million per year. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

Internet Access for Low Income Families: Governor Evers' budget included $20 million per year to create a new program housed at the Department of Children and Families that would have made payments to Internet service providers on behalf of low-income families who need help paying for Internet service. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

Broadband Line Extension Grant Program: Governor Evers' budget included a total of $5.3 million to create a Broadband Line Extension Grant program for residential properties that are not served by a broadband provider to help them pay for the necessary line extensions. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

Broadband Planning Grants: Governor Evers' budget included $300,000 per year in funding to make grants to cities, villages, towns, counties, school districts, nonprofit organization and others to support broadband planning; engineering related to broadband infrastructure; and digital inclusion activities. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

Broadband Mapping: Governor Evers' budget would have required Internet service providers to give the state information on service availability by April 1 of each year to assist in statewide broadband mapping efforts. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

Return to Work for Retired Teachers: Governor Evers proposed allowing school districts to rehire a retired teacher without requiring them to suspend their WRS retirement payment if: at least 15 days have passed since the teacher left employment; the teacher did not have an agreement in place to return to employment at the time of retirement; and upon returning to work the teacher does not elect to become a participating employee in the WRS system again. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

Computer Science Licensure Grants: Governor Evers' budget included $750,000 for a new grant program that would have helped schools provide assistance to employees who want to obtain a license or permit to teach computer science. The Joint Finance Committee removed this item from the budget bill. 

FCC Releases Details on Emergency Connectivity E-Rate Fund Application!

The FCC released information this morning about the application process for the $7.17 billion emergency connectivity fund for schools and libraries created by the American Rescue Plan Act.  

Eligible purchases include: laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connectivity. Full program details can be found at: https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/ 

The application window will open later this month! Sign up for their email alerts to stay informed here.

The FCC has released resources on how schools can prepare to apply, including a webinar series:

• Wednesday, June 16 @ 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CST: Emergency Connectivity Fund Overview Webinar for E-rate Participants – Register

• Thursday, June 17 @ 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CST: Emergency Connectivity Fund Overview Webinar for New (Non E-rate Participants) – Register

• Thursday, June 17 @ 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CST: Emergency Connectivity Fund Overview for Tribal Applicants – Register

• Wednesday, June 23 @ 3 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. CST: Emergency Connectivity Fund Overview for Potential Applicants – Register