The town is committed to providing improved broadband internet access to all residents of Winchester

A brief history

  • Winchester residents have limited access to broadband internet (25 Mbps or more).

  • The Winchester Town Board recognizes inequality in access to the internet in our township and believes that all Winchester residents need access to high levels of broadband Internet service.

  • Through a motion passed on September 6, 2021, the Town authorized the Winchester Broadband Committee to work with Internet Service Providers and pursue financial grants to build a broadband solution for the township.



Fast, reliable broadband access for remote, rural locations

Where we are today

  • In the Town of Winchester, our service provider has been CenturyLink and the service has been spotty at best. You may have heard that a company named Brightspeed has purchased all the telephone and internet assets from CenturyLink in the Winchester/Manitowish Waters/Presque Isle and Boulder Junction areas. What that means for us in Winchester is that when we call to get service for telephone or internet we should now call 833-MYBRSPD (833-692-7773) or visit their support center at www.brightspeed.com/help. You will be talking to a Brightspeed Customer Service Representative.

  • Your internet connection speed will not change automatically with Brightspeed but the future looks bright for improved service. Brightspeed is committed to bringing fiber internet connections to homes in Winchester. Brightspeed is a dynamic new company led by industry veterans committed to enhancing the service experience for new and existing customers, and to creating a next-generation telecom and connectivity business. Brightspeed currently plans to invest at least $2 billion to build a network that will bring faster, more reliable Internet and Wi-Fi to communities throughout the Midwest, Southeast, and certain parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

  • The Winchester Broadband Committee is committed to bringing high-speed internet in the form of fiber-optic connections directly to the homes and premises in the community. It is anticipated that internet connections of 100mbps upload/download will be the norm.

  • The Winchester Broadband Committee is working with the Vilas County Economic Development Commission (VCEDC) to achieve these goals. In turn, the VCEDC is coordinating between Winchester, Brightspeed and Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) to procure grants to defer some of the costs associated with implementation.

  • The PSC has periods when they accept requests for grants. We are not currently in one of those periods but we are preparing for the next grant round when it is announced. The Winchester Broadband Committee is in discussions with VCEDC, Brightspeed about requirements of a future grant application.

  • Please check back here for further information, or send an email to Winchesterbbc@gmail.com to be added to our mailing list.