Harsdorf's Plan for Rural Wisconsin: Back to the Stone Age

In the latest example of Sen. Sheila Harsdorf turning her back on her rural constituents in western Wisconsin, the 20-year career politician this week co-sponsored a motion that would force the University of Wisconsin to return $37.3 million in grant funding to expand broadband Internet access to rural Wisconsin -- costing the state 500 jobs and an estimated $27 million by 2016.

This is outrageously irresponsible and unfair legislation. It is going to cost the state millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs, and rural Wisconsin is going to pay most of the price. Once again rural Wisconsinites are getting the short end of the stick, and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf is leading the charge.

This is just the latest example of Sen. Harsdorf neglecting her rural constituents.  Just weeks ago she voted for legislation that took away the requirement for telecommunications companies to provide service in rural areas.

Whether making it harder to get telephone service or the internet, its seems Sen. Harsdorf's plan for rural residents is clear: back to the stone age.

Background

Harsdorf co-authored a last-minute motion to prohibit the UW System from supporting WiscNet, a high-speed research and education cooperative that was started in 1989, which currently provides high-speed Internet to the Cippewa Valley region, Platteville, Superior and Wausau.

Harsdorf also supported the Telecommunication Deregulation bill, which removes the requirement that companies must provide service in rural areas, and takes away the Public Service Commission’s ability to investigate complaints.  (SS SB 13, 2011)