60 miles for 600 residents

Wittenberg Telephone Company/Cirrinity is partnering with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community to bring high speed internet to the tribal reservation and surrounding rural communities.

Work has begun to lay more than 60 miles of fiber optic cable to bring reliable, high-speed broadband internet access to more than 600 addresses throughout the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Reservation, as well as the Red Springs and Bartelme communities. Working in partnership with Wittenberg Telephone/Cirrinity, this $4.5 million project is part of the Stockbridge-Munsee’s ongoing commitment to growing the region economically and improving the quality of life of its membership.

Lack of reliable internet access has long been a barrier to economic growth for rural communities in Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, approximately 43% of rural residents lack access to high-speed internet. Despite some state and federal government funding, the cost of laying fiber optic cable in under-served locations has been prohibitive for many communities, with Native American communities and households among those most disproportionately affected according to the PSC.

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet access isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity,” said Shannon Holsey, tribal council president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. “It directly impacts nearly every aspect of our life, including work, school, health care, commerce, and entertainment.”

Holsey noted that the COVID-19 pandemic further exposed how rural communities are left behind without reliable internet service. The Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council decided to make a multi-million-dollar investment to address this issue once and for all. The Wittenberg Telephone Company/Cirrinity was willing and able to partner with the council on this critical initiative said Holsey.

The project is expected to be complete by early summer 2021, with work to lay the remaining fiber optic cables to be paused over the winter months as the frozen ground will be difficult to dig. Residents will be able to activate service as soon as construction proceeds through their neighborhood. For areas that cannot be reached by fiber optic cable, an advanced Wi-Fi solution will be available.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community to build Central Wisconsin’s fastest internet service,” said Scott Nyman, general manager and CEO of Wittenberg Telephone/Cirrinity. “Since 1998, we have been working to bring high-speed internet access to rural communities in the area because we know how important it is to our economy and quality of life.

Nyman noted that partnering with the Stockbridge-Munsee will ensure that even more families and businesses will continue to grow this region as a great place to live and work.

“Our work has just begun as we continue to push to close the gap in under-served broadband access in rural Wisconsin, and we thank the Stockbridge-Munsee Community for their trust in us and our ongoing partnership,” said Nyman.

Earlier this year, WTC expanded coverage between Galloway, Elderon, Eland, Shepley and Birnamwood. According to Nyman, the company has already laid 106 miles of cable as part of that ongoing project.

WTC is a privately-owned, third generation family company. In 2021, it will be celebrating 100 years in business.

FYI
Residents wanting to sign up for internet access will need to call the Wittenberg Telephone Company/Cirrinity at 715-623-0558.