When Bug Tussle’s broadband partnership with Price County collapsed, it left a hole. Norvado is filling that hole, expanding to multiple towns simultaneously. Three Price County towns have approved Norvado fiber installations in 2026, and the pattern is the same each time: a company representative asks for a right-of-way permit, the town board votes, and fiber gets one step closer to reality.
TLDR: Norvado is expanding fiber internet across Price County town by town. Kennan approved a right-of-way permit in May 2026. Catawba signed a letter of support the same month. Georgetown approved Norvado fiber installation across its residential area in April and May 2026. The Town of Knox approved Norvado broadband installation in May 2026. The Town of Hill declined a similar request from Brightspeed because Spectrum already covers most of the township.
Four Towns, Four Approvals
Last updated: July 12, 2026
The expansion started in Kennan. Norvado appeared on the town’s radar by April 2026, when the board listed “Norvado notice of construction” as a future agenda item. On May 4, 2026, the board voted to approve Norvado’s right-of-way permit to install fiber. Chairman Jerry Bieszk motioned to approve, Tansy seconded, and the motion carried.
Catawba followed. At the May 12, 2026 Catawba town board meeting, the board signed a letter of support for Norvado fiber installation. The expansion to Catawba confirmed that Norvado isn’t just building in a single town. It’s working through Price County municipality by municipality.
Then Georgetown. Norvado sent a request to place fiber cables along Georgetown roads in April 2026. The board approved it on April 14, with Jessica McLaughlin motioning and LeRoy Lallemont seconding. A month later, on May 12, Norvado requested Georgetown sign formal permission for installation throughout the majority of the residential area. The board approved again. Chairperson Ginny Strobl signed the permission document.
Then Knox. At the May 11, 2026 town board meeting, the board approved Norvado broadband installation. Knox also approved Spectrum internet service at $100 per month for the community center in October 2025, making it one of the few towns with two competing broadband providers moving in simultaneously. The town’s population is estimated at 316 residents.
That’s four towns in four months. Each approval followed the same process: Norvado asks, the board votes, fiber gets cleared to build.
Why Norvado Is Expanding Now
The timing isn’t coincidental. Price County’s partnership with Bug Tussle to build a broadband and emergency communications network fell apart in 2026. The county board has been exploring exit options and alternative providers since. Norvado, a Wisconsin-based telecommunications cooperative, has been moving into the gap.
Norvado operates as a member-owned cooperative, which means they’re structured differently from national providers like Brightspeed or Charter Spectrum. Their expansion model relies on securing right-of-way permits town by town, then building out fiber infrastructure in permitted areas. It’s slower than a county-wide buildout, but it’s actually happening.
The company offers fiber internet plans starting around $60 per month for 500 Mbps speeds in their existing service areas. Whether Price County towns will see similar pricing depends on final buildout costs and household signup rates.
Kennan: Two Providers, Not One
Kennan’s situation is unique because the town has two providers pursuing fiber, not just Norvado. Brightspeed went first, asking the town for a letter of support for a grant application in February 2025. Chairman Bieszk signed the letter and Clerk Lynn Redfall emailed it back. The grant would fund fiber installation across multiple areas of Kennan.
Norvado followed a slower path but caught up. The company first expressed interest in Kennan in February 2026, inquiring about the old Coach property as a potential staging site. By April, the board had listed “Norvado notice of construction” as a future agenda item. The right-of-way permit approved on May 4, 2026 gives Norvado legal permission to dig along town roads and install fiber infrastructure. The board also approved burying Norvado fiber cable during upcoming road construction, coordinating the installation with scheduled road work to minimize disruption. That’s a necessary step before any construction can begin.
For a town of 127 residents, having two fiber providers interested in the same year is unusual. Most rural Wisconsin towns struggle to get even one provider to commit. The competition could mean better pricing and faster buildout for Kennan residents.
Georgetown: Broadband From Two Directions
Georgetown’s broadband story has two threads. In January 2025, Brightspeed asked Georgetown for a letter of support for a broadband funding application. Chairperson Ginny Strobl signed the letter, making Georgetown one of the few towns that supported both Brightspeed’s grant bid and Norvado’s fiber buildout.
The Norvado approval came 15 months later. The April 14, 2026 board meeting minutes show Norvado requested fiber cable placement along Georgetown roads. The board approved unanimously. By May 12, Norvado had formal permission to install fiber throughout the majority of Georgetown’s residential area.
Georgetown Clerk Kathleen Lundborg confirmed that the installation covers most of the residential section of the township, not just a single road or neighborhood.
Hill: The Town That Said No
Not every town needs Norvado. The Town of Hill declined a broadband request from Brightspeed in February 2025. The reason: Spectrum already covers the majority of the township.
At the February 17, 2025 board meeting, Chairman Ron Wiitala and the board voted not to provide a letter of support for Brightspeed’s fiber project. The minutes note that “Spectrum has already hooked up the majority of the town.” Hill also switched its own town hall service to a Spectrum bundle that includes internet, landline, and cell phones for $150 per month, locked for three years.
Hill’s situation shows the patchwork nature of rural broadband. Some towns have no service and need fiber. Others already have a provider and don’t need a second. The solution that works for Kennan doesn’t necessarily work for Hill.
Bug Tussle’s New Role: Emergency Towers, Not Broadband
While Norvado handles fiber, Bug Tussle is pivoting to a different infrastructure project. At the May 18, 2026 Hill board meeting, the county reported that Bug Tussle is building five new cell towers for police, fire, and EMS communications across Price County. A 50-foot tower is planned for Phillips.
The county’s 5-year tower plan includes equipment now active on three towers, with Bug Tussle still an option at year five if tower placement improves. A separate 10-year radio upgrade plan is also in progress. This is a different project from broadband. The towers are for emergency communications, not residential internet.
What this means: Bug Tussle’s broadband partnership may be ending, but the company is still involved in Price County infrastructure. The emergency tower project fills a gap in public safety communications that’s separate from the residential broadband gap.
What This Means for Price County
The pattern is clear. Norvado is working through Price County one town at a time, getting permits approved at board meetings. Kennan, Catawba, Georgetown, and Knox have all signed on. Hill doesn’t need it. Other towns haven’t been approached yet, or haven’t discussed it at board meetings.
This town-by-town approach is different from the county-wide Bug Tussle model that failed. Instead of one big partnership, Norvado is building a network through individual municipal agreements. It’s slower, but each approval is a permanent commitment. Once a town grants a right-of-way permit, the fiber infrastructure can be built whenever funding and construction schedules align.
For residents in Kennan, Catawba, and Georgetown, the timeline depends on Norvado’s construction schedule. The company typically builds within 12 to 24 months of securing permits. Service is expected as early as late 2027 in the first towns to approve.
The town-by-town approach also means some parts of Price County will get fiber years before others. Towns that approve Norvado permits in 2026 will see service sooner. Towns that wait, or that aren’t on Norvado’s radar yet, will rely on existing DSL, satellite, or cable options indefinitely.
How Town Approvals Work
Each Norvado approval follows the same pattern. A company representative contacts the town clerk and asks to be placed on the next board meeting agenda. At the meeting, the board reviews the request, discusses it, and votes. If approved, the town signs a permission document granting Norvado the right to install fiber cables along town roads.
This is a public process. Residents can attend board meetings, ask questions, and review the permits before they’re signed. Meeting minutes documenting the votes are public records.
Towns that haven’t been approached by Norvado can also take initiative. Board members can contact the company directly to express interest. The Kennan, Catawba, and Georgetown approvals all started with Norvado reaching out, but there’s nothing stopping other towns from reaching in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Price County towns have approved Norvado fiber?
Four towns as of July 2026: Kennan (right-of-way permit, May 2026), Catawba (letter of support, May 2026), Georgetown (fiber installation permission, April-May 2026), and Knox (broadband installation approved, May 2026).
Did the Town of Hill approve Norvado?
No. Hill declined a Brightspeed broadband request in February 2025 because Spectrum already covers most of the township. Norvado has not approached Hill as of July 2026.
When will fiber internet be available?
Norvado typically builds within 12 to 24 months of securing permits. Service is expected as early as late 2027 in the first towns to approve. No firm dates have been announced.
What speeds will Norvado offer?
Norvado’s plans in existing service areas start around 500 Mbps for approximately $60 per month. Pricing in Price County will depend on final buildout costs and household signup rates.
What happened to the Bug Tussle broadband partnership?
The county’s partnership with Bug Tussle to build a broadband network collapsed in 2026. Bug Tussle is now building five cell towers for emergency communications instead. Norvado is filling the residential broadband gap.
Can my town request Norvado fiber?
Yes. Town board members can contact Norvado directly to express interest. The company has been responsive to towns that reach out. The approval process happens at public board meetings.
See also: what makes Price County communities special
See also: our guide to Price County public records
See also: our investigation into the Bug Tussel broadband deal
See also: our guide to every town in Price County
See also: our Price County Board 2026 roster and meeting tracker
See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin
Sources
Town of Kennan Regular Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2025; April 6, 2026; May 4, 2026. Town of Catawba Regular Meeting Minutes, May 12, 2026. Town of Georgetown Regular Meeting Minutes, January 14, 2025; April 14, 2026; May 12, 2026. Town of Knox Regular Meeting Minutes, October 13, 2025; May 11, 2026. Town of Hill Regular Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2025; May 18, 2026. Price County Board of Supervisors meeting transcripts, June 2026.