Democratic Wisconsin State Rep. Wants Non-Deployment Funding

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2025 – A Democratic state lawmaker in Wisconsin wants his state to retain control over its full allocation under the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, including the $363 million not tapped for expanding infrastructure.

State Rep. Randy Udell, D-47th District, said the state’s broadband office would like to use that portion of its $1 billion allocation on “tasks such as pole attachments, workforce development, and cellular infrastructure.”

“However, NTIA has signaled their intention to withhold these Congressionally-allocated funds,” he said in a statement Thursday. “It is ignorant to treat these non-deployment funds as optional. Even in Dane County, rural households still lack reliable internet coverage, and these cuts will only delay their access further.”