Internet providers would be allowed to lease space on state radio towers to offer broadband Internet access in rural areas under a plan that passed the Wisconsin Assembly Wednesday.
Right now the Department of Natural Resources is prohibited from leasing space on its towers to private companies. Cascade Republican Daniel LeMahieu says ending that restriction would help bring broadband to parts of the state where it’s scarce.
“The private sector has been looking for this type of ability, and they saw this as one easy way to do it with the towers already there.”
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The plan would only apply to six radio towers to begin with. It passed the Assembly on a unanimous voice vote.
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