As our world continues to become more interconnected and dependent on immediate communication and connection to the internet at faster speeds, the availability of broadband services becomes more critical than ever before.

Economic Development Director Jimsi Kuborn says the City applied for grant funding in 2019 through the Broadband Expansion Grant Program, administered by the Public Service Commission.

Over 1,200 local businesses can now connect to newly installed fiber optic Internet at one of the many access points along the network stretching four miles from downtown Janesville, south.

The City and Wisconsin Integrated Technologies acted in a private-public partnership to contribute $114,320 towards the project, with the remaining cost to be matched by the State via the grant program to drive fiber expansion and resiliency.

The new fiber will serve as a future extension to the City of Beloit and business parks that operate in the Beloit area.