Reliable internet without any connectivity challenges is no longer a luxury for rural Wisconsin residents. It’s a necessity, especially for agriculture operations. Farmers are managing data, using GPS technology, monitoring crops remotely, checking the weather, and making real-time decisions based on results. Broadband has become one of the most important tools on the farm. And while there’s been recent progress to expand access, state officials say the toughest work is still ahead, especially in remote areas.
Governor Tony Evers, along with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), released the final annual report from the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access. It highlights six years of work aimed at closing Wisconsin’s digital divide. The report credits record state and federal investments for dramatically increasing broadband availability. But it warns many of the state’s rural communities remain disconnected.
“Every Wisconsinite deserves access to high-quality, affordable internet,” Governor Evers said. “Looking ahead, leaders must continue these efforts to fill gaps, support digital skills and affordability programs, and ensure successful broadband deployment for Wisconsin’s kids, students, families, and communities.”
Some rural communities see progress
The report shows close to 410,000 Wisconsin homes and businesses have gained access to new or improved high-speed internet since 2019. It happened through more than $345 million in state and federal investments. In some rural areas, where long distances and lower population density makes broadband expansion more expensive, those investments have been significant.
According to the report, 97,000 locations received broadband service with speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload during the past year. Fiber internet also expanded substantially, with 234,000 additional locations now able to connect.
Those improvements have also helped Wisconsin’s broadband adoption rate climb to more than 93 percent. It’s the highest level the state has ever recorded.
But the report also estimates more than 31,000 locations remain unserved, and there are no broadband projects currently planned. These are areas in rural and hard-to-reach parts of the state, where extending infrastructure remains both technically challenging and costly.
Broadband is a fundamental necessity on the farm
State officials say expanding broadband isn’t just about faster internet. It’s about ensuring rural communities are economically competitive. The state’s major agricultural organizations, Wisconsin Farmers Union and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, have been heavily involved in advocating for the expansion of rural broadband.
Both describe high-speed internet as an essential tool for today’s farmers, supporting nearly every aspect of modern agriculture. Precision farming technologies, including GPS-guided tractors, soil sensors, drones, and automated irrigation systems, rely on broadband. Internet connectivity also allows newer tractors, combines, and other equipment to receive remote diagnostics and software updates.
Beyond the field, the organizations have pushed state lawmakers to understand how broadband gives farmers instant access to commodity prices, competitive supply markets, and opportunities to sell their products directly to consumers or wholesalers, expanding their reach into regional and global markets.
Reliable internet is also critical for weather and risk management, providing real-time forecasts and severe weather alerts, along with pest and disease monitoring tools. It all helps farmers make informed decisions throughout the growing season.
What happens next?
This marks the final task force report, but the work is far from complete.
PSC Chairperson Summer Strand said the task force is making recommendations to address remaining barriers while building on progress.
“The recommendations in the final 2026 report highlights a strong foundation, especially in the areas of infrastructure investment, public engagement and community partnerships, workforce development, digital skills training, emerging technology readiness, and sustained affordability,” Strand explained.
Task force members plan to urge Wisconsin policymakers to:
- Continue funding broadband expansion projects, particularly those serving difficult-to-reach rural areas.
- Encourage providers to offer affordable internet plans alongside new infrastructure.
- Expand partnerships with counties, municipalities, and Tribal Nations to identify local broadband needs.
- Invest in workforce training for technicians, engineers, equipment operators, and other skilled workers needed to build broadband networks.
- Develop a state affordability program to help eligible families pay for monthly internet service after the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program.
- Prepare communities for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, by expanding digital skills training.
Task Force Chair Chris Meyer said the report reflects years of collaboration among state leaders, local governments, internet providers, community and farm organizations.
“This report shows the real progress we have made as a state. And it highlights the work still ahead to be able to deliver affordable service to every corner of Wisconsin,” Meyer said.
Read the entire 2026 Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access Report here.
