Three Lakes wants to be known as a place people can work remotely because of how reliable internet connection is.
It recently accomplished a step to get it closer to that goal.
Like much of the Northwoods, broadband in Three Lakes is mixed.
“The Three Lakes area has very, very good spots. We have multiple providers in many areas, but we also have a lot of tree coverage and a lot of lakes so there are areas where people just can’t get service yet,” said Collette Sorgel, Executive Director of the Three Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Oneida County Tourism Council.
Accessible broadband is a priority for the town.
Three Lakes recently received the Telecommuter Forward! Community Certification by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
It recognizes local units of government that have met criteria for promoting telecommuting opportunities. It’s done in partnership with broadband providers, economic development professionals, and the State Broadband Office.
“One of the things we believe is that the pandemic has taught us, people can work from anywhere with a good internet connection if their company allows them,” said Sorgel. “What we’d like to do is make sure anyone who wants to be a telecommuter, who wants to come up to the Northwoods, who wants to spend time playing in between work has that opportunity to have the quality of life that we love up here.”
Several other Northwoods communities are Telecommuter Forward! Certified including Iron County, Boulder Junction, and Plum Lake.
Sorgel wants to see more communities take part.
“When people come to visit Three Lakes they go to other cities nearby and spend time there. We want to make sure that the entire Northwoods is covered with the high-speed the big cities can get,” she said.
Three Lakes has been working with the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation and Grow North to find good broadband solutions.
