MADISON – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is encouraging eligible organizations to apply for grant funding to improve the availability and affordability of telecommunications services to Wisconsin residents. The grant funding opportunities include the Nonprofit Access Grant Program and the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program. Both grant programs are funded by the Universal Service Fund to help Wisconsinites access essential telecommunications services.
“I am excited to announce the next round of the Nonprofit Access Grant Program and the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program,” said PSC Chairperson Summer Strand. “These programs are integral to the PSC’s mission to ensure equitable access to essential telecommunications services for all Wisconsin residents. Grant recipients will help people stay connected to their loved ones, educational and vocational resources, medical professionals, and more. I encourage the numerous entities eligible to apply for these grants to participate in the continued success of these programs and to deliver these opportunities to more people across our great state.”
The Nonprofit Access Grant Program provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations to facilitate affordable access to essential telecommunication services for low-income households, people with disabilities, and customers in areas with relatively high costs of services. This round of the Program will have a two-year performance period and the Commission may award a total of $500,000 in grants. Applications are due on March 6, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. Additional program information is available on the Nonprofit Access Grant Program webpage.
The Lifeline Outreach Grant Program improves participation in the Lifeline Program which helps address affordability challenges by providing a discount on essential telecommunication services like internet and phone for low-income households. Nonprofit organizations, community-based agencies, institutions of higher education, local and Tribal governments, and for-profit businesses are eligible to apply for the grant program. The Commission may award up to $250,000 in grants. Applications are due on March 26, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. Additional program information is available on the Lifeline Outreach Grant Program webpage.
All grant applications must be submitted through the PSC’s Grants System. The application instructions for each program includes information on how to use the PSC Grants System to submit applications. The PSC’s Grants System webpage contains more information about how to use the System and includes a recording of a webinar conducted by PSC staff that provides an overview.
An online version of this release is available here.
