Sometimes it is helpful to see what our neighbors are doing. In Wisconsin, they have decided no tot invest in broadband this year, as Wisconsin Public Radio reports…

Republican lawmakers voted Thursday to eliminate Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed $750 million investment in broadband, saying the state would wait for an upcoming influx of federal broadband funding instead.

The move by Republicans on the Legislature’s budget committee would mark the first time in a decade that the Legislature hasn’t set aside funding for broadband expansion.

It comes at a time when the federal government is expected to spend between $700 million and $1.1 billion on broadband expansion in Wisconsin as part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden. The state’s Public Service Commission has estimated the total cost of expanding broadband statewide at about $1.8 billion.

Minnesota chose to invest $100 million, which means we’ll get close to ubiquitous broadband quicker than our neighbors.