BEAD Utility Locating

​​​Overview

Over the past decade, significant state and federal investments in broadband deployment across Wisconsin have increased the frequency and scale of utility locating in some areas of the state. Delayed or inaccurate locating of facilities can prevent timely and cost-effective deployment of broadband to unserved areas and presents a serious safety risk for technicians. Likewise, overly broad and excessive re-locate requests by broadband providers are inefficient, costly for utilities, and put an unnecessary strain on the locating system. BEAD construction will cover over 130,000 locations across the state that are planned to be built with fiber and an additional 17,000 that will be supported by new and existing wireless towers. 

Utility locating for broadband infrastructure is urgent and challenging. The PSC is committed to improving utility locating processes for BEAD construction to ensure safe, cost-efficient, and timely locating and construction through proactive communication and information sharing.​

​Affected utility owners and companies conducting locating activities can begin preparing for BEAD construction now. Suggested preparation activities include:

• Establish a point of contact within your organization for BEAD-related construction and share with nearby BEAD winners and the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) at the Public Service Commission (PSC).
• Review data and maps to begin planning staffing and training for future broadband deployment expected in your area.     
  
• BEAD Utility Locating Pre​construction Meeting Best Practices​
  
• Spreadsheet Identifying BEAD Awardees Overlap with Utility Service Territory (coming soon)
  

​​Best Practices for Addressing Utility Locating Challenges 

• If a utility owner or internet service provider believes locating tickets are being filed incorrectly to Diggers Hotline (i.e. too large, too vague, relocate abuse, filing on a schedule instead of as needed) please contact Mike Meyer, IT Services Manager at Diggers Hotline (mmeyer@diggershotline.com). 
  
• If a utility line/facility is struck, the entity/internet service provider should contact and notify the utility owner directly (and if a gas line is struck, they should call 911 first). Diggers Hotline should not be contacted in this instance. 
  
• If an entity/internet service provider is digging without requesting locates and there are potential issues related to gas or hazardous materials, as detailed in Wis. Stat. §182.0175(3)​, an official complaint can be submitted through Diggers Hotline. There is no formal complaint process for other utilities affected (electric, communications, water, sewer) due to entities digging without requesting locates, but the Commission encourages affected and concerned utilities to contact the entity/internet service provider directly.
  

​BEAD Preconstruction Meetings

BEAD grant agreements require BEAD recipients to convene preconstruction meeting(s) with utility owners within the project area. At least 30 days before submitting any request for utility locating services related to the project area via the One Call System, the BEAD recipient must provide notice to the utility owner(s) of intent to initiate construction in the vicinity of their facility and request a meeting.

The meeting request must include: a primary point of contact for the subrecipient, a map of the project construction area, and a timeline for construction.

Relevant BEAD Data Sources

​Wisconsin BEAD Awardees Map

Wisconsin ​BE​​​​​​AD Aw​​ardees Map​​

Broadband, Equity, Access, & Deployment (BEAD) Awardees, 2025

Aggregated depiction of BEAD awardees assembled by the WBO. Downloads include h3 hexagons depicting proposed coverage areas by awarded entity and technology, along with affected county and tribal governments. 

Updated on February 24, 2026.​

DOWNLOAD​ (FGDB, SHP​)  ​

​​​​BEAD Project Fiber and Tower Construction Estimates

• BEAD Award Summary​ downloadable spreadsheet that provides estimates for project construction commencement and estimated construction of fiber miles and towers for each project by county.
  

​​Questions

For more information on Wisconsin Statute §182.0175, utility locating compliance, violations, and enforcement, contact Diggers Hotline by phone (811) or visit the Diggers Hotline website.

For additional information see the BEAD Grant Webpage and docket 5-BD-2025​. For questions related to BEAD utility locating and preconstruction meetings, contact PSCBEADGrants@Wisconsin.gov . ​​