DANE COUNTY — Dane County Executive Melissa Agard today announced a new public-private partnership between the Dane County Planning and Development Department and UpNetWI, a local internet service provider based in Stoughton, to significantly expand high-speed broadband access in the Town of Dunkirk. Leveraging federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the project will deploy state-of-the-art fiber-to-the-home service to approximately 140 currently unserved and underserved homes and businesses.
“High-quality internet is basic infrastructure in today’s economy,” said County Executive Melissa Agard. “This partnership will help families connect with work, school, and health care, support small businesses and farms, and strengthen our communities. When every household can get a fast, reliable connection, we grow jobs, expand opportunity, and ensure people can stay connected to one another across Dane County.”
UpNetWI has begun construction, with work underway in recent weeks. The buildout will occur in three phases, with the large majority of addresses in the Town of Dunkirk and a small number in neighboring Towns of Pleasant Springs and Albion. The project area includes segments of Tower Drive, Hammond Road, Slinde Road, Highway A, Veium Road, Leslie Road, Hannerville Road, Highway N, and Highway 51. The Town of Dunkirk Town Hall is included in the project. Fiber technology will provide impacted locations with a fast, robust, and reliable connection that supports remote work, telemedicine, online learning, and everyday communication.
“We are grateful for our local partners who share the goal of closing the digital divide,” Agard added. “By pairing county ARPA resources with private-sector expertise, we are moving quickly to reach unserved areas and deliver the speeds and reliability residents deserve.”
The overall project is estimated to be complete by November 2026. A project map is available upon request.
