Bridging the Digital Divide: High-Speed Internet Arrives in Western Kenosha County
Over 1,000 homes and businesses in western Kenosha County, Wisconsin, are now connected to the internet with speeds that were once unimaginable in these rural communities. This much-needed access comes thanks to a recent expansion of Spectrum’s broadband network, a project part of a larger statewide initiative to bring high-speed internet to Wisconsin’s rural areas.
The significance of this expansion was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Marcus Hawkins, Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, and Brighton Town Chairwoman Susan Crane, along with representatives from Spectrum and community leaders.
“This is one of 83 projects that received funding in 2021 to bring broadband access to rural communities,” explained Commissioner Hawkins. “These expansions not only strengthen the local economy – encouraging new families and businesses to settle in the area – but they also deliver new opportunities for residents.”
The need for reliable internet access became painfully clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Kenosha County Executive Kerkman. "When everything shut down, it became apparent how essential internet access is," she emphasized. “In today’s world, it’s a necessity. People need to be connected to pay bills, work from home, and help their children with schoolwork. Those things are so important to have, especially in rural Wisconsin.”
Crane echoed Kerkman’s sentiments, drawing parallels to the electrification of rural America in the early 20th century:
"In the 1920s and 1930s, rural Wisconsin was at a disadvantage. Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine had electric lights, but we were still milking our cows by hand. Our students had a disadvantage. Our businesses and farms had a disadvantage. In my opinion, broadband is the same exact thing nearly 100 years later.”
This expansion, Crane believes, is finally leveling the playing field. “We’re in a better place every month because of broadband coming to us,” she remarked. "We’re not there yet, but I know in the future we will be."
The article features photos of Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Marcus Hawkins, Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, and Brighton Town Chairwoman Susan Crane. There are also images of the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a Spectrum technician demonstrating fiber splicing.
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Residents are already experiencing the positive impacts of this new connectivity.
- Spectrum’s expansion in western Kenosha County underscores a crucial shift in bridging the digital divide within the state.
