2025 should be a big year for broadband expansion in area
If all goes according to plan, 2025 will be a big year for the county when it comes to connecting homes and businesses with broadband internet.
County Broadband Manager Grant Bub said the county is looking forward to taking a great leap forward in getting people connected in the coming year.
In addition to the middle-mile fiber optic network the county installed with WanRack, the county continued to work with Bug Tussel on a tower and fiber network that will close the loop around the county and greatly expand high speed internet services in the rural areas of the county.
According to Bub, Bug Tussel currently has eight towers live in the county including towers in Goodrich, Interwald, Rib Lake, Deer Creek, Water Apple, Maplehurst, Aurora, and on Hwy 64/73. There are currently 80 customers receiving service from these towers.
Bub said the existing towers have the capabilities of providing service to an estimated 3,010 residences. He explained that tower-based internet services is impacted by the landscape with a reliance on line of site. Dense stands of trees and being in a low-lying area can impact availability. However, Bub noted they could be creative when it comes to connecting people such as having receivers mounted on aerial similar to TV antennas or higher on buildings to minimize obstructions.
According to Bub, in the summer of 2025, availability of high speed towerbased services will be opened up to about another 1,320 residences as the towers on Center Ave., Hughey, Chequamegon, Hannibal and Jump River come on line. This will leave towers on Mondeaux, Richter Lake, Whittlesey and Yellow River road to go on line in 2026 opening up service to another 890 residences.
In addition to the tower-based services, Bug Tussel is also connecting fiber to homes. Existing live lines include the east side of Goodrich heading north on CTH C to the east side of Rib Lake. The 20-mile section of fiber optic passes 150 homes which are able to be connected.
Another 10 miles of fiber lines are scheduled to be installed this summer in Whittlesey.
In fall 2025, a project will begin to install 80 miles of fiber optic cable connecting Jump River, Richter Lake, and Spietes Lane (Yellow River Road). Bub noted that most of the Bug Tussel plans are for areas in central, north and western Taylor County which are underserved by companies like Spectrum and TDS compared to around the city of Medford.
In addition to those projects, Bug Tussel will be working on Sunset, Castle Rd., CTH Q from Hwy 64 and Perkinstown Ave. to extend fiber services with homes along the routes able to connect.
In addition to these projects, Bub noted that TDS and Charter are continuing to install fiber to the home both within and expanding outside of their grant funding areas.
The county is also working with the multi-billion dollar Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program to accelerate the availability of fiber to the home in rural areas. The county has partnered and endorsed Bug Tussel to receive the BEAD grants for this area because the company is already active in working in the area and it could greatly speed up the connection process.
Round one of the BEAD grants will be awarded March 31 to April 4. Round two applications are due April 6-11 with them to be awarded in May. Round three applications are during in May and June with the final state plans due in November.
Bub encourages people interested in the broadband projects and those who have interest in connecting with Bug Tussel to visit the Chamber’s Home and Business Expo March 21-23. Bug Tussel representatives will be at the expo and people can speak to them about signing up. Bub also noted that people with questions for Bug Tussel can call them at 920-940-0002.
In addition, Bub noted that Bug Tussel will have a larger presence in the community as it transitions to take over the AT& T store in Medford. The store will continue to sell AT& T products and services and those with questions about Bug Tussel services will be able to connect with representatives.
While the focus of the broadband project has been to improve high speed internet access to residents in the county, an important side benefit will be expanded cellular telephone services in areas of the county currently experiencing poor service.
Bub said he is aware of cellular equipment that will be installed on at least five of the towers. “There will probably be more,” Bub said, noting that the company has been talking with at least three carriers.
“We expect 2025 to be a big year for getting people connected,” Bub said. In his role with the county, Bub helps oversee and maintain the county’s broadband network and serves as a point person for the county working with Bug Tussel and other entities. He encourages people with questions about the county’s ongoing broadband projects and partnerships to reach out to him at the courthouse. His number is 715-785-8359 and his email is grant.bub@co.taylor.wi.us.
