June 16, 2011 – 5:28 PM

Here’s what Maddy and I shared with the WiscNet membership this afternoon.  It goes for you as well.

You wrote. You called. You visited the capital. You tweeted. You forwarded. You spread the word. You defended our cooperative with a spirit and tenacity that was appropriate, passionate and compelling. Your willingness to show your support made a real difference and we will always be grateful for that. Thank you.

We could tell something special was brewing when we began to read the copies of letters that you were sending to your representatives. These letters were not the standard fare sent mostly to be counted and not read. These letters told a story. Not only did they capture the personal stories of WiscNet, but they read effortlessly about a very complex matter. And each letter told a different story.  From dire financial impositions to halted projects and collaborations to unacceptable dependencies these letters described, first-hand, the importance of collaboration between Higher Education, K12 schools, Libraries, local governments, and hospitals for over 20 years.

Your voices were heard and they were what made a difference. In fact, our own WiscNet staff, that spent tireless hours in the capital, explained that legislators couldn’t find space to meet with them because offices were already filled with WiscNet advocates. The capital was buzzing with your support. Together, WiscNet members and legislators worked hard to come to an acceptable compromise. We specifically appreciate the efforts of Representative Vos who played a leadership role in bringing the parties together to reach this compromise.

Thank you. From the bottom of our tired, grateful hearts we thank you. From the very beginning we knew our membership was our greatest strength and you definitely came through over the past few weeks.

While we haven’t crossed the finish line yet, the efforts thus far have been monumental and we needed to shine a light on them. We will continue to keep you posted as the bill progresses and as we navigate our new path under these new circumstances. Our sincerest thanks!

June 16, 2011 – 9:14 AM

Here’s the official WiscNet statement that went out the morning to our members.

Thank you for your continued attention to the legislative issues affecting WiscNet! Late last evening, Assembly Republicans introduced and passed an Amendment related to WiscNet and the University of Wisconsin.  An analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau is linked at The Wheeler Report.

Federal Broadband Stimulus Grants:  We appreciate the efforts to allow the $32 million UW-Extension federal grant to move forward, albeit with the provision that future financial commitments require Joint Finance Committee approval. In communities where we do not have funds committed as of June 15, 2011, we will come to the Joint Finance Committee with our community partners to present a compelling case about the value of this investment and the importance of moving forward with our promise to expand broadband access in rural Wisconsin.

WiscNet:  We welcome an objective review of the relationship between the University of Wisconsin and WiscNet, a nonprofit cooperative.  The amendment allows the University of Wisconsin to continue as full members of WiscNet for the next two years, while the review helps everyone understand these issues better.  We look forward to a healthy dialogue with legislators, telecommunications providers, community partners, and others.  We are confident that those open lines of communication will be fruitful.

Research Collaborations:  The amended language allows us to remain as active members of existing research consortia (e.g., Internet2, Educause). Over the next two years, the review will help shed new light on our role in these important global partnerships. Even without additional changes to statute beyond today’s amendment, we will still have the option of joining new consortia with additional Joint Finance Committee oversight, and we are confident that legislators will understand the importance of letting WiscNet’s membership join these collaborative research networks that boost Wisconsin’s economy.

Overall:  We are cautiously optimistic, but our attorneys and information technology experts need time to review the new statutory language. For now, we appreciate the efforts of Rep. Robin Vos and other legislative leaders who helped broker a reasonable compromise. This allows us to move ahead without jeopardizing network memberships, while we and the State work together to better understand the complex issues involved.

Thanks again.  We will continue to keep you updated throughout the process.