Spectrum expands high-speed internet service in rural Oconto County

Spectrum recently finished an expansion of its fiber broadband network in Oconto County. This project covers more than 1,300 homes and businesses across the townships of Oconto, Little River, Mountain, and Townsend. The infrastructure upgrade brings gigabit internet speeds to these previously underserved rural areas in Wisconsin.

This expansion project is part of a broader corporate initiative to add more than 1.7 million new locations to the company network nationwide. Matt Brown, the area vice president of field operations for Spectrum in Wisconsin, noted that the company remains focused on closing the connectivity gap for residents and businesses that lacked fast internet access.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the initiative includes a partnership with Emplify Health by Bellin to support local medical services. Spectrum donated $2,500 to The Bellin Health Foundation to help provide better technology for virtual care. This donation aims to assist patients in scheduling appointments and viewing test results through digital platforms like MyChart.

Molly Vandervest, president of The Bellin Health Foundation, highlighted that these digital tools are vital for maintaining rural health access. She noted that remote provider visits rely on consistent connectivity, which this broadband expansion helps secure.

State Representative David Steffen, R-Howard, welcomed the change for the local economy. He stated that rural residents have often faced limitations due to slow internet and that this network update helps keep Wisconsin communities competitive. Residents can verify their location and check for service availability on the official Spectrum website.