MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are circulating a bill to expand broadband service in underserved parts of the state. The bill made public Tuesday is sponsored by Rep. Romaine Quinn and Sen. Howard Marklein. It would allocate $15.5 million in grants for rural areas. Almost a quarter of Wisconsinites live in rural areas and around 40 percent do not have broadband, or high-speed internet access, at home. Quinn and other Republican lawmakers focused on improving life in rural Wisconsin plan to hold a news conference Tuesday to discuss the broadband bill and other initiatives to improve health care access and job creation. Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal released last week included an additional $35 million for broadband, which includes the grants. A significant portion will go toward schools and educational institutions.
