The chart below is intended to be a quick reference guide of the discounts available to families and funding available to districts, based on the best information we have today.
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Direct to Consumer Internet Discounts |
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| Ongoing | Public Service Commission Internet Discount Finder Tool | Internet service providers offer a variety of discounted internet service options, based on eligibility. The Wisconsin Internet Discounter Finder can search these resources and provide a list of options available at an address. |
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Ongoing |
Public Service Commission Internet & Phone Helpline (608)267-3595 |
Speak to dedicated staff members who will help consumers connect with discount options. |
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Ongoing |
Discounts of $7.25 - $18.50 on essential telecommunications. |
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No New Enrollments - Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) |
Wisconsin Public Service Commission ACP Benefit Page Getacp.org (pre-enrollment wizard) EducationSuperHighway K-12 Adoption Toolkit CEP and FCC/USAC approved letter templates for school leaders |
Temporary discounts up to $30/month ($75 on Tribal Land) off of eligible household's internet access bill. Includes one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Program end date April 2024. |
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School/District Purchasing |
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Ongoing
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Statewide discounted contracts and pricing for hardware, software, internet, & cybersecurity. |
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| Ongoing | Education for Homeless Children and Youth Innovation and Compliance Grants | Competitive grants that could be used for devices, hot spots, and data plans for students experiencing homelessness. |
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Ongoing - ESSER Funds distributed through WISEgrants |
Broad use including, purchasing educational technology and training (including hardware, software, Internet & cybersecurity) DPI Page: COVID Response and Relief Planning Recommendations |
LEAs need to obligate ESSER III funds by September 30, 2024. |
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No new applications accepted |
DPI Emergency Connectivity Fund Website & Program Details
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Funds to support devices and off-campus broadband services. Funds committed in Window 3 have to be used by June 30, 2024 and invoiced by August 29, 2024. |
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Apply before August 30, 2024 |
DPI Page: Project 10Million - details about how to apply and a submit list of de-identified eligible students to T-Mobile through the WISEdata portal. |
Free T-Mobile hotspots with 100GB data per year for eligible students. Project 10Million customers may notice speeds slower than other customers due to data prioritization. Visit T-Mobile Project10 Million webpage for further details. Program end date August 2025. |
| Other Funding Opportunities for Public-Private Partnership Broadband & Digital Equity Projects | ||
| Coming Soon: Digital Equity Grants |
$1.25 billion competitive grant through NTIA to support projects that leverage strategic partnerships to meet the goals and objectives of the Wisconsin Digital Equity Plan. (pages 108-114) Libraries, school districts, and CESAs will be eligible to apply for this federal grant. Application Window Opening Spring 2024. NDIA Blog: How You Should Prepare for Digital Equity Grants. Author Paolo Balboa, Retrieved Feb. 29, 2024. |
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| Application Deadline - June 19, 2024 | PSC Capital Projects Fund Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program |
$33 million to fund projects that deploy computing devices, install Wi-Fi equipment in targeted apartment buildings, and provide digital navigation services to make use of the devices for work, education, and health monitoring. Libraries, school districts, and CESAs are not eligible to apply for this state grant directly. However, they can partner with eligible organizations on grant activities. This grant will require a minimum of 3 local partner organizations. |
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Ongoing - Broadband Expansion Grants |
Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Local Planning Contacts |
Schools can leverage Digital Equity Data and pool resources with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives to apply. |
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Ongoing - State Trust Fund Loan Program |
BCPL State Trust Fund Loan Program | Low interest loans for municipalities and school districts for local infrastructure projects |
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Rural ReConnect Program |
USDA ReConnect |
Grants and loans to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. Round 5 opening March 22, 2024. |
| Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program | Round 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity | Grants for Tribal governments to deploy internet infrastructure, affordability programs, telehealth, and distance learning initiatives on tribal lands. Round 2 application window closes March 22, 2024. |