It looks like the University of Wisconsin's dream to become an alternative broadband source has dodged a bullet as a Dane County judge denied Access Wisconsin's move to block the project from moving forward.
A consortium led by the University of Wisconsin won $37 million in broadband stimulus grants that was centered on providing telecom to public institutions (schools, hospitals and first responders).
Upon completion, the project would bring services to Eau Claire, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Grant, Marathon and Menominee counties.
Access Wisconsin, one of the managing partners of the BCN, the BadgerNet Converged Network that's run in partnership with large telcos including AT&T (NYSE: T), CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL), KDL and Verizon (NYSE: VZ), argued that the project violates state law because it will compete with privately run companies. The group wanted a judge to order a temporary restraining order to prevent the project from moving forward.
For more:
- WBAY.com has this article
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