EAGLE RIVER, Wis. — Nearly 700 homes and businesses in rural Vilas County will now have access to high-speed broadband as part of Spectrum’s public-private investment with the Wisconsin Broadband Expansion Grant Program.

On Thursday, Spectrum joined state Sen. Mary Felzkowski, state Rep. Rob Swearingen and community leaders in Eagle River to celebrate a fiber-optic network buildout that will ultimately bring gigabit broadband and other Spectrum services to the Eagle River and outlying area.  

“The arrival of Spectrum services in the Town of Lincoln will help residential customers to learn or work remotely, making this area a year-round destination that offers the same amenities as bigger cities,” said Bill Marshall, Chair for the Town of Lincoln Broadband Committee.

As part of Wisconsin’s Broadband Expansion Grant Program, Spectrum was awarded approximately $130,000 in funds to expand services while Spectrum made a private investment of nearly $1 million into the project.

“People up here, you know, they need Internet," said Jim Egan, Town of Washington Chairman. "We have a very aged population. The school kids we learned during COVID needed it. You know, parents needed it. It's just a godsend to start getting this installed up here.”

“The state broadband expansion grants are bringing high-speed connectivity to Wisconsin’s rural communities and we are elated,” said Sen. Felzkowski. “Spectrum’s latest network expansion will connect more Wisconsinites and open doors for new opportunities in work, education, and health care for these families and small businesses.”

Spectrum wants to bring high speed Internet to about 140,000 homes and businesses in rural Wisconsin. 

Spectrum is owned by Charter Communications, which is the parent company of Spectrum News 1.