News
A public-private push with AT&T in four Door County communities in Wisconsin to close existing digital divides is taking shape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Leaders in four rural Door County communities have watched their two-year-old vision to connect residents and businesses with high-speed broadband finally start to take shape, thanks to a set of public-private projects with AT&T.
The four projects — spanning Egg Harbor, Sevastopol, Sturgeon Bay and the Village of Egg Harbor — total more than $24 million and promise fiber connectivity to more than 5,400 locations, according to AT&T.
AT&T reports that fiber is already available to around 350 addresses in the Town of Egg Harbor, with works continuing to bring service to the remaining locations.
According to AT&T, Door County has been home to a persistent digital inequity.
As a result, the company noted that their work has been supported by public funds aimed at narrowing the digital divide.
“Various local studies in recent years have identified a significant digital divide gap in rural communities across Door County, with many households reporting slow, expensive, or no broadband options,” the provider’s August 20 release stated.
The provider thinks work in Egg Harbor Village is expected to finish by spring 2027. Meanwhile, work in the other Door County communities is expected to be completed during a roughly two-year window, leading into 2026, according to AT&T’s release.
‘It’s not a luxury anymore’
Comments from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, praising the ongoing work, were also included in AT&T’s release.
“From running a business and doing homework to talking with your doctor, having affordable high-speed internet is a necessity in the 21st century. It’s not a luxury anymore,” Evers said. “Families, businesses, farmers and others will have the opportunity to grow, ensuring this region continues to grow and thrive for years to come.”
Door County is an exceedingly rural part of Wisconsin.
The county, which includes the Door Peninsula and Washington Island, includes 300 miles of coastline along Lake Michigan, according to Destination Door County.
Door County also includes five state parks, 19 county parks, beaches, and thousands of acres of wilderness, the tourism website states.
The above content was partially generated by AI tools.
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