Wisconsin is one of the first states to receive federal funds to begin creating what will be a nationwide map showing where broadband Internet services are available.

The Public Service Commission will get a total of $1.7 million; $1.2 million to collect data and map it over the next two years, and $485,000 to plan broadband development over a three-year period.

Wisconsin already has a head start on the project, PSC spokeswoman Teresa Smith said. The agency has collected information from nearly 9,000 consumers and from Internet providers and has posted an initial map of broadband availability on its Web site, at http://psc.wi.gov/recoveryAct/documents/map3Exchange.pdf.

Smith said the money, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to fine-tune the state's data showing parts of south-central, northwest and northeast Wisconsin lack broadband service.

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