Wisconsin’s Broadband Deployment Act

From the Janesville Gazette:

[Thumbs up] To the Broadband Deployment Act. Gov. Jim Doyle has signed legislation offering $7.5 million in tax exemptions and credits to companies willing to extend high-speed Internet to rural areas. Republicans, Reps. Brett Davis of Oregon and Phil Montgomery of Ashwaubenon and Sen. Ted Kanavas of Brookfield, co-authored the bill. Without the incentives, companies often can’t justify expanding broadband service into sparsely populated areas. Such access is especially critical to businesses and thus economic development. “Roads, bridges and reliable energy have defined infrastructure in America since the 19th century,” Montgomery said in a news release. “The emergence of the Internet is redefining our infrastructure needs as we compete in the increasingly global marketplace.”

Those legislators who worked on this should be commended.  For an economic analysis, check out this.