>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> BROADBAND INTERNET GETS A BOUNCE THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS COMMITS $100 MILLION IN FEDERAL RECOVERY MONEY TO UPGRADE INTERNET SERVICE STATEWIDE.

AND THE MASKS COME OFF.

FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL MASK RESTRICTIONS ARE LOOSENED OR LIFTED ALTOGETHER AS WISCONSINITES WIGGLE FREE FROM THE GRASP OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE FUTURE OF BROADBAND IN WISCONSIN.

A GREEN BAY PHYSICIAN CONSIDERS WHAT THE NEW NORMAL IS SHAPING UP TO BE.

AND A STATE ECONOMIST SPEAKS TO THE STATE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY DURING PANDEMIC RECOVERY.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 21.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> IF THERE'S ONE LESSON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US, IT'S THAT ACCESS TO QUALITY INTERNET SERVICE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE, FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING VIRTUAL SCHOOL, EMPLOYEES WORKING REMOTELY OR PATIENTS LOOKING TO ACCESS MEDICAL TREATMENT ONLINE.

THERE ARE STILL LARGE SECTIONS OF THE STATE WHERE BROADBAND IS NOT AVAILABLE.

BUT THAT'S CHANGING AGOING AS THE STATE LOOKS TO INVEST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS INTO BROADBAND EXPANSION.

SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE STORY.

>> THE TOWN OF BOULDER JUNCTION IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN IS BUILT AROUND TOURISM.

THE LATEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT WON'T MAKE THE AREA ANY MORE BEAUTIFUL.

>> AS YOU DRIVE AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE, YOU SEE THIS ORANGE TUBE.

>> BUT IT WILL MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE.

>> THE ORANGE TUBE IS CONDUIT, AND IT PROTECTS THE FIBEROPTIC CABLE.

>> BILL NIEMUTH IS PART OF A GROUP OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SPENT YEARS WORKING TO BRING FIBEROPTIC CABLE AND HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND TO EVERY DOOR IN TOWN.

HE SAYS IT MEANS INSTEAD OF TOURISTS COMING AND GOING IT WILL MEAN VACATIONERS TURNING INTO RESIDENTS.

>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE, I'LL CALL IT A TRANSFORMATION IN THE ECONOMY.

AND SO BOULDER JUNCTION IS A MICROCOSM OF WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

>> EXPANDING BROADBAND ACROSS WISCONSIN HAS BECOME ONE OF THE FEW BIPARTISAN TALKING POINTS IN WISCONSIN'S BUDGET PROCESS.

>> I'M EXCITED TO DECLARE 2021 THE YEAR OF BROADBAND ACCESS.

>> IN JANUARY, GOVERNOR EVERS CALLED FOR THE STATE TO INVEST $200 MILLION IN BROADBAND.

THIS WEEK, EVERS ANNOUNCED HE WOULD USE $100 MILLION FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS ON BROADBAND EXPANSION GRANTS.

>> AND NOW THE DEBATE CENTERS AROUND HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD THE STATE INVEST AND WHERE SHOULD THE MONEY COME FROM.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GET THE FEDERAL MONEY.

WE'RE GOING TO GET A LARGE SUM OF IT.

IT COULD GO A LONG WAY.

>> REPUBLICANS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE TONY KURTZ SAY THEY WANT THE GOVERNOR TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS FIRST SO THE STATE CAN INVEST ITS MONEY ELSEWHERE.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL IN APRIL THAT WOULD HAVE MANDATED THE GOVERNOR TO USE $500 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS ON BROADBAND.

>> IT WOULD BE VERY PRUDENT ON US TO USE THE FEDERAL MONEY WHERE WE KNOW WE CAN USE IT.

>> THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT BILL, SAYING BROADBAND SHOULD INCLUDE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.

DEMOCRATS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE GRETA NEUBAUER SAY THE STATE NEEDS TO THINK BIG, COMPARING BROADBAND EXPANSION TO THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT OF THE 190s.

>> JUST LIKE ELECTRIFICATION IT WILL OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE <!0> HAVE ACCESS TO THIS BASIC AND ESSENTIAL SERVICE.

>> AS THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO DEBATE HOW MUCH THE STATE SHOULD INVEST, WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT BROADBAND EXPANSION ACTUALLY MEANS, WHERE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING, AND WHO STANDS TO GAIN.

>> DEMAND FOR INCREASED BROADBAND SERVICES WAS ALREADY THERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> KRISTI KNEE TOE WORKS AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND WORKS ON GRANTS.

THE PSC HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $70 MILLION IN GRANTS SINCE 2014 TO EXPAND BROADBAND ALL OVER THE STATE, WITH MOST OF THAT MONEY COMING IN JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS.

NIETO SAYS MORE PROJECTS ARE WAITING FOR FUNDING.

>> WE JUST HAVE MORE EXCELLENT, VIABLE PROJECTS THAN WE HAVE FUNDS.

>> NOT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE FIBER BEING INSTALLED AT THE HOUSE.

WISCONSIN'S GEOGRAPHY MEANS SOME AREAS ARE BETTER SERVED WITH A TOWER BLASTING OUT A SIGNAL.

>> THE GRANT PROGRAM ITSELF IS TECHNOLOGY NN NEUTRAL.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE WHERE THEY DIFFER.

BUT IT'S NOT THE LAST.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 1930s AND THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ACT AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND TODAY.

>> SHANNON CLARK IS CEO OF RICHLAND COLLECTIVE COOPERATIVE, FORMED TO BRING ELECTRICITY TO FARMERS IN THE HILLY AREA OF SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

HE SAYS 100 YEARS AGO, PUTTING UP POLES AND RUNNING LINES WAS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND EVERYONE WANTED ELECTRICITY.

>> WE STILL FIND EVEN IN BROADBAND PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL AREAS YOU DON'T HAVE A 100% TAKE RATE.

THERE'S 3.4 CONSUMERS PER LINE.

WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT TWO OF THEM ACTUALLY SAYING, YES, I WANT TO CONNECT.

>> ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONE COOPERATIVES ARE ACTUALLY GREAT MODELS FOR EXPANDING BROADBAND BECAUSE THEY WERE FORMED TO SERVE AS RURAL AREAS WHERE THE BIG COMPANIES DIDN'T ENVISION ENOUGH PROFIT TO BOTHER EXPANDING.

>> THE REAL CHALLENGE FOR BROADBAND IN RURAL AREAS IS THE CAPITAL EXPENSE ON THE FRONT END.

THAT IS THE LION'S SHARE OF WHAT IT IS.

>> THAT'S WHY STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS ARE CRITICAL TO EXPANSION.

IF THEY PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION, THE SERVICE PROVIDER DOESN'T NEED TO RECOUP THOSE INVESTMENTS THROUGH HIGHER RATES, MAKING BROADBAND MORE AFFORDABLE.

BUT NOT ALL GRANTS ARE THE SAME.

SOME OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS ROLLED OUT OVER THE YEARS JUST WENT TO THE LOWEST BIDDER.

>> AND ALL OF THOSE HAVE HAD THE PROMISE AT THE END THAT WE WOULD HAVE RURAL BROADBAND WIDELY DEPLOYED.

TO DATE, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF PUTTING IN FIBEROPTIC HAS BEEN DISORGANIZED AND HAPHAZARD.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN CHARGE OF IT.

MAYBE NOBODY.

>> WHEN DAVE AND HIS WIFE MOVED TO RURAL RICHLAND COUNTY, THEY DIDN'T MISS THE INTERNET.

>> IF THE INTERNET HAD NEVER COME ALONG, WE WOULD BE PERFECTLY FINE.

IT'S PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE NOW AND YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET ONBOARD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO YET.

>> GRANT PROGRAMS PAID FOR TWO DIFFERENT NEARBY BROADBAND PROJECTS, ONE ON A CELL TOWER AND ONE INSTALLED ON A SILO.

BUT NEITHER CAN REACH HIS VALLEY.

>> IN ORDER TO ACCESS THOSE ANTENNAS, YOU NEED TO HAVE A DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT.

YOU CAN SEE WE'RE DOWN HERE IN A VALLEY WITH STEEP HILLSIDES.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN THE LIBRARY, HE WOULD DRIVE INTO TOWN TO USE ITS INTERNET AND ON THE WAY HE'D PASS A BILLBOARD ADVERTISING TELEHEALTH.

>> YOU NEED A DECENT INTERNET CONNECTION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> THE COOPERATIVE RECENTLY PLEDGED TO BRING FIBER TO HIS DOOR, YET ANOTHER BROADBAND EXPANSION FOR HIS CORNER OF THE STATE.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MONEY COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOURCES, BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS WHO'S COORDINATING ALL OF THIS.

>> SOME OF THE FEDERAL PROJECTS WILL TAKE YEARS TO COME ONLINE, WHICH MEANS THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NEEDS TO MAP THOSE PROJECTS ALONG WITH THEIR OWN GRANTS.

>> TRYING TO ANTICIPATE WHEN THOSE WILL ACTUALLY BE BUILT AND IN WHAT ORDER AND WHERE AND THEN LAYERING IN OUR OWN STATE GRANT PROGRAM AND PROJECTS.

>> NIETO SAYS STATE GRAPTS ARE DIFFERENT.

THE STATE DOESN'T PAY ANY MONEY UNTIL THE WORK IT COMPLETE.

>> THESE ARE TWO-YEAR-LONG PROJECT BUILDOUTS AND THE PROVIDER RECEIVES REIMBURSEMENT ONCE THE WORK IS DONE.

>> THE STATE REQUIRES A LOCAL SPONSOR, USUALLY A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR VILLAGE, TO PUT UP MATCHING FUNDS, WHICH MEANS THE COMMUNITY IS HEAVILY INVESTED AS WELL.

>> IT'S THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

>> BILL NIEMUTH SAYS THE TOWN OF BOULDER JUNCTION WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS DEVELOPING THEIR PROPOSAL AND GOT APPROVAL FROM THE VOTERS TO BORROW TO PAY FOR THE MATCHING FUNDS.

THE END RESULT IS TWO GRANTS FROM THE STATE WORTH $2.8 MILLION PROVIDING FIBER TO 1100 RESIDENTS AND 200 BUSINESSES.

>> WHEN THESE TWO PHASES ARE DONE, WE WILL HAVE SERVICE THAT WILL MEET OR EXCEED ANY SERVICE OF ANY URBAN AREA IN THE STATE.

>> BOULDER JUNCTION IS JUST ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES IN VILAS COUNTY IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN THAT'S LEADING THE WAY ON BROADBAND.

>> WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN AGGRESSIVE WITH TECHNOLOGY.

>> SCOTT FOSTER IS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR FOR NORTHLAND PINE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EAGLE RIVER.

THE SCHOOL USED GRANTS TO RUN FIBER TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LAND 'O LAKES AND ST. GERMAIN.

THE COMMUNITIES ARE HOPING TO TAKE IT FROM THERE.

>> WHAT ST. GERMAIN DID IS APPLIED TO RUN FIBER TO EVERY ONE OF THEIR TOWN LOCATIONS.

SO ANY DOOR THAT EXISTS OR FUTURE DOOR WILL HAVE FIBER TO IT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I THINK BOULDER IS GOING TO SET THEMSELVES APART.

I THINK ST. GERMAIN NOW IS STARTING TO DO THAT.

>> THE NORTHLAND PINES SCHOOL DISTRICT COVERS 476 SQUARE MILES.

FIBER ONLY THE ISN'T THE ONLY ANSWER.

>> IF YOU'RE LIVING A MILE OUT, IF FIBER CAN GET TO IN THE BALLPARK, THEN WE MIGHT NEED TO JUMP TO A POINT TO POINT ANTENNA.

>> THE PANDEMIC SHOWED WHEN PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALL NEEDED INTERNET AT THE SAME TIME THE SYSTEM COULDN'T HOLD UP.

>> SOMETIMES THE MEASUREMENT OF DO YOU HAVE INTERNET OR NOT IS NO LONGER THE QUESTION.

IT'S WHAT QUALITY INTERNET DO YOU HAVE.

>> THAT'S WHY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PARTNERING WITH A COMPANY CALLED WISCLIFT TO SEE IF A TETHERED DRONE NETWORK COULD PROVIDE A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

>> CAN WE TAKE THE SCHOOL'S NETWORK, FIREWALL, ALL RESTRICTIONS AND PUSH IT OUT TO PEOPLE AT HOME.

>> SCOTT WILLIAMS AND HIS FAMILY DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT WHILE SERVING IN THE MILITARY.

THIS DRONE CAN CREATE AN INTERNET HOT SPOT THAT WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO TAP INTO THE SCHOOL NETWORK FROM HOME.

>> PUT IT OUT 100 FEET, YOU CAN GET A MILE OF RADIUS.

>> THE DRONE NETWORK WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE FOR EVERYDAY USE, BUT DURING A PANDEMIC OR EVEN JUST A SNOW DAY IT MIGHT MIKE MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SYSTEM IS -- IT'S TRULY DESIGNED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE OR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I THINK EVERY COUNTY SHOULD HAVE ONE.

>> THAT'S WHY THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION RECENTLY AWARDED WISCLIFT A $100,000 CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT.

>> THE WHOLE GOAL BEING ALL OF THOSE THAT WE SELL AND PRODUCE COME OUT OF WISCONSIN.

>> THE WEDC ALSO ANNOUNCED A GRANT TO TEST SATELLITE INTERNET IN EAU CLAIRE COUNTY.

STARLINK IS PART OF ELON MUSK'S SPACEX COMPANY.

>> THIS IS THE STARLINK SATELLITE DISH.

>> JONATHON SHARP IS A BETA TESTER LIVING IN VILAS COUNTY.

>> I WAS ON A CALL THIS WEEK WITH PEOPLE FROM TOKYO.

>> HE HAD A CONNECTION IN THE WOODS OUTSIDE EAGLE RIVER.

>> COME HERE.

>> BUT IT COULD BARELY KEEP UP.

HE SAYS STARLINK PROVIDES FASTER SPEEDS THAN FIBER.

>> IF YOU CAN POWER THE DISH, YOU CAN GET AN INTERNET CONNECTION.

>> STARLINK IS MORE EXPENSIVE, SO IT'S NOT THE ANSWER FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT IS THE ANSWER FOR HIM.

>> WE'RE LIVING THE DREAM.

LIKE THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE.

I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD COME AS FAST AS IT HAS.

>> BEYOND STARLINK, JONATHON SHARP REPRESENTS THE BIGGEST SHIFT THAT BROADBAND CAN BRING: THE TRULY REMOTE WORKER.

>> WHEN WE MOVED UP HERE, BROADBAND WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

IT DICTATED WHERE WE LOOKED AT HOUSES.

>> THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BROADBAND ARE USING IT TO ATTRACT WORKERS AND BUSINESSES.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS HERE AND THEY LIKE TO BE FLEXIBLE.

WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY FOR THEM.

>> BOULDER JUNCTION IS USING ITS TOURIST GUIDE TO ADVERTISE THEIR BROADBAND PROJECT.

BILL NIEMUTH SAYS THEY'RE ALREADY SEEING RESULTS.

>> WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IS THAT RECRUITMENT AND REALLY THE INFLUX OF THOSE REMOTE WORKERS.

AND JUST ON MY ROAD ALONE, WE HAVE THREE WHO HAVE MOVED IN IN THE LAST YEAR WHO ARE NOW FULL-TIME.

>> SHANNON CLARK HOPES TO SEE THE SAME THING IN RICHLAND COUNTY.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL AMERICA THAT WE'VE SEEN IN DECADES.

THE ABILITY TO STOP THAT BRAIN DRAIN, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT NOT ONLY THEIR JOB, THAT GROCERY STORE, THAT CONVENIENCE STORE, SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL.

>> WE DID SEE AN ENROLLMENT INCREASE THIS YEAR.

>> SCOTT FOSTER SAYS NORTHLAND PINES REVERSED YEARS OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT DECLINE BECAUSE SOME FAMILIES DECIDED TO MOVE TO EAGLE RIVER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE PLACES THAT HAD BROADBAND UP HERE, WHEN PEOPLE WERE WORKING FROM HOME, THEY VACATIONED HERE OR CAME HERE FOR EXTRA WEEKS BECAUSE THEIR KID COULD LEARN DURING THE DAY AND THEY COULD DO ALL THE THINGS THEY LIKE TO DO.

>> IF REMOTE WORKERS CAN LIVE ANYWHERE THEY WANT, WHY NOT THE NORTHWOODS?

THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE HOUSE THEY'RE BUYING HAS BROADBAND.

>> REALTORS UP HERE WILL TELL YOU THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.

>> REPORTING FROM EAGLE RIVER, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."

>> REPUBLICANS ON THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE WERE EXPECTED TO REVEAL THEIR PLAN ABOUT BROADBAND, BUT YESTERDAY THEY DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER JUNE IN ORDER TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE $100 MILLION IN GRANTS THAT GOVERNOR EVERS ANNOUNCED EERLD ER THIS WEEK.

NOW TO HEALTH NEWS.

GOVERNOR EVERS TOURED THE STATE THIS WEEK TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND BADGERCARE AND INVEST MONEY INTO STATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

REPUBLICANS OPPOSED THE EXPANSION.

LEADERSHIP IS EXPECTED TO GAVEL IN AND GAVEL OUT THE SESSION WITH NO ACTION TAKEN.

NOW TO COVID NEWS.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE TOOK STEPS THIS WEEK TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDELINES TO NO LONGER REQUIRE VACCINATED PEOPLE TO WEAR MAIVES IN MASKS IN PUBLIC.

THIS COMES AS VACCINATION RATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

WE CHECK IN ON VACCINATIONS AND THE LOOSENING OF PUBLIC HEALTH EE TRICKHEALTHRESTRICTIONS WITH DR. CASEY, WHO JOINS US FROM GREEN BAY.

SO THE LAST TIME THAT WE TALKED WITH YOU WAS IN OCTOBER AND YOUR HOSPITAL AND THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE FALL SURGE OF COVID-19 AND SENDING PATIENTS TO THE STATE FIELD HOSPITAL WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION AT THAT TIME.

HOW DOES TODAY COMPARE TO THAT?

>> TODAY IS REMARKABLY DIFFERENT.

WE ARE STILL SEEING COVID, BUT THE NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IS MARKEDLY DIMINISHED COMPARED TO THE FALL.

WE'RE RUNNING A CENSUS OF ONE TO SIX COVID PATIENTS PER DAY COMPARED TO GREATER THAN 40 PER DAY IN THE FALL.

SO EVEN THOUGH COVID IS STILL HERE, THE NUMBERS ARE MARKEDLY DIMINISHED, THE LOWEST SINCE LAST JUNE YESTERDAY.

>> SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I DID WANT TO ASK YOU WAS CAN YOU AND YOUR STAFF YET EXHALE THEN IN RELIEF.

>> YES.

WE CAN.

AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

THE PANDEMIC IS SOMETHING THAT US IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION HAVE NEVER SEEN IN OUR LIFETIME.

IT'S A ONCE IN A CENTURY EVENT.

IT STILL IS A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC THAT IN THIS COUNTRY HAS KILLED ALMOST 600,000 PEOPLE.

AT THE PEAK OF OUR EXPERIENCE AT OUR HOSPITAL, 25% OF OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY WAS FILLED WITH COVID PATIENTS WHO WERE VERY, VERY ILL. AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DID NOT TRULY REFLECT THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY THIS DISEASE.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE LONG HAULER SYNDROME WHERE EVEN IF YOU'VE HAD COVID AND NOT BE SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED, YOU CAN HAVE SEQUELAE FOR MONTHS AND YEARS.

>> SO THE VACCINATION RATE IN BROWN COUNTY SITS AT ABOUT 40%, ABOUT THE SAME RATE FOR THE SATE AS A WHOLE.

ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES IS AT 30%.

IS THAT HIGH ENOUGH IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE NEED 75%, 80% VACCINATION RATES TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A HIGHER RATE WITHIN OUR HOSPITAL COMMUNITY.

WE'RE SITTING AT 71% OF OUR HOSPITAL STAFF FULLY VACCINATED AT THIS POINT.

SO THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND BE ABLE TO NOT WEAR MASKS IS TO GET HERD IMMUNITY AND THAT'S UNACHIEVABLE UNTIL WE HAVE A HIGHER RATE.

>> BUT WITH THE DRAMATIC EASING OF CASES AND AT THE SAME TIME VACCINATIONS, ALTHOUGH NOT AT A HIGH ENOUGH RATE, WE'RE NOW IN A PLACE WHERE MASK REQUIREMENTS AND CROWD RESTRICTIONS ARE ON THE WAY OUT.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT COURSE?

>> IT IS IF THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOLLOWED.

SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BASED ON RECENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT SHOWED MAINLY THREE MAIN POINTS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE VACCINE IS 90% EFFECTIVE.

IT'S ACTUALLY MORE EFFECTIVE IN REALITY THAN IT WAS IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS.

DR. FAUCI WAS YESTERDAY POINTING OUT THESE THREE POINTS.

IT'S 90% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING ILLNESS FROM COVID-19.

THE SECOND POINT IS THAT THE VACCINES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE VARIANTS.

THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN, THAT THE NEW VARIANTS WOULD NOT BE HANDLED BY THE VACCINES.

BUT WE KNOW NOW THAT THEY DO COVER THE VARIANTS.

AND THE THIRD POINT IS THAT EVEN IF YOU GET INFECTED AFTER HAVING BEEN VACCINATED, THE CHANCES OF YOU HAVING ENOUGH VIRAL LOAD TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS IS EXCEEDINGLY SMALL.

THE FEAR WE HAD IS YOU COULD STILL GET A ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTION.

WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THE CHANCE OF TRANSMISSION IF YOU'RE VACCINATED IF YOU DO GET INFECTED AND DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS IS VERY, VERY SMALL.

>> ALL VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS.

DR. PAUL CASEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> NOW TO THE STATE CAPITOL, WHERE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED ECONOMIC PLANS THIS WEEK, PROPOSALS THAT WOULD END WISCONSIN'S PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL FEDERAL RECOVERY PROGRAMS RELATED TO UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAYS THE RELIEF MONEY TO WORKERS PREVENTS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM FILLING OPEN POSITIONS.

>> THE THING THAT IS WORRYING MANY OF US AND THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT'S IMPEDING THE RECOVERY IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN FROM BEGINNING TO END.

SO IF YOU'RE A MANUFACTURER, YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR PRODUCTS IN AND BE ABLE TO SHIP THEM OUT TO MARKET.

THAT'S BECAUSE TRUCKING COMPANIES HAVE A HUGE CONCERN WITH THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE APPLYING AND FILLING POSITIONS.

WE SEE EVERY SINGLE MANUFACTURER THAT I SPOKE WITH -- AND I SPOKE TO LARGE AND SMALL, AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING, THAT THEY ARE SEEING A SMALLER NUMBER OF APPLICANTS, THEY ARE SEEING THE FOLKS WHO DO APPLY NOT NECESSARILY SHOW UP FOR INTERVIEWS.

THEY ARE SEEING FOLKS WHO DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME WORK ETHIC APPLYING FOR SOME OF THE POSITIONS.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.

THE STATE'S LARGEST BUSINESS LOBBY APPLAUDS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OF AN EXTRA $300 PER WEEK AND THE MOVE THAT REINSTATES TD WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENT TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.

THAT TAKES EFFECT SUNDAY.

THE WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS AND COMMERCE SAYS THERE IS A CRISIS LEVEL WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AND PANDEMIC-RELATED POLICIES CREATE A DISINCENTIVE TO WORK.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE WORKERS GONE AND WHAT WILL BRING THEM BACK?

FOR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE, WE TURN TO THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CHIEF ECONOMIST DENNIS WINTERS.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> THE SO IN YOUR ESTIMATION ARE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME AND OUT OF THE WORKFORCE?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PRELIMINARY REASON OR THE PRIMARY REASON THAT WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, SHORTAGE OF WORKERS THROUGH THE STATE.

IT MAY HAVE SOME EFFECT NOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS OPENING.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN THERE IS SOME DISINCENTIVE DEPENDING ON THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THEY ARE GETTING IN BENEFITS AND WHAT THEY NORMALLY MAKE IN THEIR SALARIES.

BUT THAT'S NOT WIDESPREAD AT THIS POINT.

BUT AS WE TRANSMISSION TO A MORE OPEN ECONOMY, YEAH, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DISINCENTIVE NOW THAT THERE ARE JOBS TO GO BACK TO, SURE.

>> YOU'RE SAYING IT'S NOT THE PRIMARY REASON, THOUGH.

WHAT IS?

>> WELL, THE PRIMARY REASON AS WE TALKED ABOUT FOR SOME TIME IS THERE IS JUST A SHORTAGE OF BODIES, A SHORTAGE OF CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO FILL ALL THESE JOBS.

WE HAD THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT BEFORE THE GREAT RECESSION BACK IN '07.

THAT LET SOME OF THE PRESSURE OUT OF THE POT, RIGHT?

AS SOON AS WE TURNED AROUND FROM THERE, BUSINESSES WERE COMPLAINING THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ENOUGH WORKERS THEN.

THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S HAPPENED IS THE BABYBOOMERS HAVE GOTTEN 10, 11 YEARS OLDER THROUGH THE GREAT RECESSION AND ARE RETIRING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

>> AND SO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

I KNOW THAT EMPLOYERS -- YOU SEE IT KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY'RE KIND OF BOOSTING THEIR LOWER LEVEL WAGES SOME.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

IS IT ABOUT BOOSTING WAGES AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES?

>> WELL, PART OF IT WILL BE BOOSTING WAGES FOR ANY PARTICULAR FIRM.

BUT IF OVERALL YOU JUST HAVE A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, AT SOME POINT HIGHER WAGES AREN'T GOING TO MATTER.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO RUN OUT OF SUPPLY IS KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO THAT'S THE OTHER INCENTIVES TO GET MORE BODIES INTO THE WORKFORCE AND THEY MAY HAVE TO COME FROM OTHER PLACES.

>> LIKE?

>> WELL, THEY CAN COME FROM NEIGHBORING STATES IF IN FACT THEY LET US TAKE ALL THEIR WORKERS, SO THERE WILL BE COMPETITION AMONG OTHER STATES DOING THE SAME THING.

ANOTHER SOLUTION IS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND IMMIGRATION.

THE U.S. IS STILL A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO, SO THAT'S ONE SOLUTION FOR THE SUPPLY.

>> SO HOW DOES A WORKER SHORTAGE IN THIS WAY AFFECT WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY?

>> WELL, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, IT AFFECTS IN THE SENSE WE CAN'T -- A LOT OF COMPANIES CANNOT PRODUCE THE ORDERS THAT THEY HAVE COMING INTO THEIR SHOPS.

SO THAT DAMPENS HOW MUCH GOODS AND SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED AND SLOWS ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE THING WE HAVE -- WE HAVE TO RAISE PRODUCTIVITY, RIGHT, OF THE WORKERS AND THE TECHNOLOGY AND MATCH THEM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP GROWING THE ECONOMY.

>> AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE AN INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST FRANKLY A SHORTAGE OF, AS YOU SAID, BODIES.

BUT IS THERE -- ARE THERE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT JUMP OUT AT YOU AT THIS TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING IT A CRISIS?

>> WELL, YEAH.

SOME SOLUTIONS, AGAIN, ARE IMMIGRATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, RIGHT, THE VISAS THAT THEY USE TO BRING IN SUMMER HELP, PARTICULARLY RIGHT AROUND PLACES LIKE THE DELLS IN WISCONSIN.

THERE'S LIMITS THERE ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BRING IN.

SO THAT'S ONE SOLUTION.

YOU COULD OPEN SOME OF THAT UP.

ANOTHER SOLUTION IS IMMIGRATION AS A WHOLE AND BRINGING IN WORKERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THE OTHER RESOURCE I SEE THAT'S UNTAPPED THAT WE NEED TO TAP INTO IS THE CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED, THOSE THAT HAVE A NUMBER OF BARRIERS.

EITHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, IT'S DAY CARE, IT'S SKILL LEVELS.

THERE'S A SEGMENT OF THAT THAT WE HAVE TO TAP INTO IN THIS STATE.

AND THE STATE'S DOING A LOT IN TRAINING PROGRAMS TO TRY TO GET THOSE PEOPLE UP TO SPEED.

BUT IF YOUR WORKFORCE IS FLATTENING OUT ON TOP, YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE SUPPLY THAT'S UNTAPPED WITHIN THE STATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

LOTS MORE TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS, THOUGH.

DENNIS WINTERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, A PROGRAM NOTE.

NEXT WEEK MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER.

MONDAY NIGHT PBS WISCONSIN PRESENTS A PAIR OF PROGRAMS ON HOW THAT SPARKED A RENEWED CONVERSATION ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA.

FIRST "SAY HIS NAME," A DOCUMENTARY FROM TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION, FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL BROADCAST OF "WHY RACE MATTERS."

HOST ANGELA FITZGERALD LEADS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF BLACK DEATH.

THAT'S MONDAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON PBS WISCONSIN.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STUDENT JOURNALIST AND INTERNIST CASSIE MCGREE.

THEY GRADUATED FROM UW-MADISON THIS MONTH.

THANK YOU, CASSIDY, AND GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR ENDEFERS.

ENDEAVORS.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.