Sokaogon Partners on Workforce Training for $72M Broadband Network
By Chez Oxendine
October 22, 2026
A new broadband workforce partnership is set to launch in spring 2027 to support a $72 million tribally-owned fiber network planned for northern Wisconsin.
The Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Nicolet College, and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards are developing a one-year broadband service technician apprenticeship program. This program combines 2,000 hours of on-the-job training with 144 hours of related instruction at Nicolet College. Apprentices will earn wages while learning installation, repair, network support, and administrative activities.
The tribe’s 900-mile fiber network is expected to reach approximately 4,600 homes in Forest County and nearby communities. The project, reportedly the largest off-reservation tribally-owned and operated in Wisconsin history, was announced in February with a four-year construction timeline, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Sokaogon Chairman Robert VanZile shared with Wisconsin Public Radio that the apprenticeship would help create jobs while expanding broadband access to support telehealth, education, and economic development throughout the region.
The partnership grew from earlier education and workforce development collaborations between Sokaogon and Nicolet College. As the tribe pursued broadband funding, the partners identified apprenticeship as a way to train workers while they earn wages and gain credentials.
The partnership serves as a foundation for broader digital access and technology goals. Bobbi Fields, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Nicolet College, mentioned that the tribe brought together higher education, health care, and technology partners to discuss telehealth and other regional needs.