State grants $186K for Oconto County broadband

OCONTO — The Oconto County Economic Development Corp. and Bertram Communications have been awarded $182,058 for Phase II of a fixed wireless project to expand high-speed internet access in the northern sections of the county.

One of 72 grants the state Public Service Commission awarded in the latest round of Broadband Expansion Grants, this phase of the project is expected to help build and equip two wireless towers in the towns of Spruce and Mountain.

The fixed wireless service will reach 18 business and 301 residential locations within the footprint of the antennas. The County Board in December pledged $2,000 in support of the project, and OCEDC is adding $500.