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Broadband and BCCAN Director: August Neverman  •  Phone: (920) 448-7860  •  Fax: (920) 448-6266  •  Click here to email
Physical Address: 835 Walnut Street  •  Green Bay WI 54301  •  Map
Mailing Address: PO Box 23600  •  Green Bay WI 54305-3600
Office Hours: M - F, 8am - 5pm

BCCAN - Brown County Community Area Network

BCCAN LogoThe Brown County Community Area Network (BCCAN - pronounced BEACON) fiber optic project began in 2007 through bond approval by the Brown County Board of Supervisors, in conjunction with the County Executive.

This fiber infrastructure was created to improve LAN/WAN connectivity between Brown County departments. In addition, The Department of Technology Services (DoTS) built in reserve capacity that allows other entities to access very high speed LAN/WAN and/or internet services in the Brown County area.
  • BCCAN provides fiber network, optional internet access and security related services.
  • The BCCAN network also reduces the County’s costs of high speed connectivity to other government and educational institutions.
  • Brown County continually works locally and with the state and federal government to improve high speed connectivity through free public WiFi:
    • County buildings
    • public libraries
    • Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport
    • Neville Public Museum
    • NEW Zoo. 
  • BCCAN is eRate authorized and has a FCC USAC SPIN ID 
BCCAN consists of approximately 95 miles of underground fiber infrastructure as of January 2019 and is currently partially self-funded with lease fees covering portions of construction and operating costs.

Benefits Now and In the Future

Benefits Now and In the Future
All authorized entities have an equal opportunity to use available BCCAN fiber. The core purpose of the fiber infrastructure is for services such as 911 Emergency, WAN and backup services. However, County-provided fiber has helped development from providers such as Nsight, AT&T and Spectrum by providing a funding mechanism to install fiber. 

Long Term Goals
BCCAN will continually partner to improve access to high speed internet. Fiber can facilitate a broad range of high speed communication technology and can be reused as other technology is retired. Community Area Networks such as BCCAN are the foundation of SMART Cities’ and SMART Counties’ technology initiatives. BCCAN goals include:
  • Major expansions: Wrightstown, Pulaski, Denmark, and Northeast Brown County
  • Partner with municipalities to ensure they have fiber or full internet service if they choose leveraging BCCAN.
  • All 911 Radio towers for next-gen-911. This would also allow the County to reduce or eliminate expensive tower to tower repeater systems. That same fiber would also permit the possibility of a County government mesh wireless network, leasing for a public mesh wireless network or a public/private partnership.
  • Work with school districts to improve access and reduce the digital divide.
  • Work with healthcare providers to improve rural healthcare access via the internet & BCCAN.
  • Multiple fiber paths in and out of the County. Currently we have MERIT to the north and WiscNet to the South but no West runs. Expand fiber to ensure mesh access. St. Norbert’s College run was recently completed.
  • Partner with Door County, Kewaunee County, Outagamie, Manitowoc and Shawano using fiber runs to allow for shared services, mutual aid and reduced telecommunication expenses.
  • Support directly or indirectly East and West Green Bay Fiber Arterial to ensure technology-dependent businesses are attracted to the region.
  • Work with the County Board to add dig once pro-fiber ordinance for the County
  • Facilitate business development. (Since first offering its fiber optic service in 2012, Chattanooga, Tenn. has generated over $400 million in new business investments and 6,000 new jobs.)