Envision Greater Fond du Lac is partnering with Fond du Lac County to complete a county-wide survey assessment of broadband internet access and service. The portion of the survey designed for residents was launched in March, and the taskforce is now soliciting responses from all businesses located in Fond du Lac County.

Broadband internet access in the County affects more than residents; it also affects the business community. This became more evident during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses transitioned their workforce to work remotely, but employees who had poor internet access struggled to effectively complete their work. Businesses and entrepreneurs are also less likely to establish their business in an area with poor or no internet access. This leads to less businesses settling in smaller rural communities. To address both residential and business concerns, Fond du Lac County and Envision Greater Fond du Lac developed these county-wide internet surveys after participating in the Broadband Connectors Pilot by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). This pilot program provided technical assistance to help the county become better prepared to apply for broadband expansion grants. Fond du Lac County was one of only six communities selected to participate in the program.

“Early results from our residential survey show that of the 47% of residents who currently work remotely, only 22% have an internet subscription that meets their needs,” Elle Henne, Director of Business Intelligence at Envision Greater Fond du Lac, said. “Most of these individuals say their internet is too slow or the connection is unreliable. By increasing internet speeds and capabilities, we can elevate our local business community and attract new businesses to Fond du Lac County.”

Completing the survey assessment is only the first step toward the goal of making internet access more widely available. Following the survey, the data must be mapped and analyzed before working together with internet providers to apply for and secure grant funding to implement internet upgrades and service expansion.

To learn more about the Fond du Lac County residential and business internet surveys, please visit envisiongreaterfdl.com/broadband.

To learn more about Envision Greater Fond du Lac, please visit envisiongreaterfdl.com.