Illinois Broadband Director is a State Broadband Veteran

Illinois Broadband Director Matt Schmit is no newbie, nor is the state’s broadband office. In 2019, Illinois’ $45 billion capital investment plan included $400 million to fund a new broadband program that would be dubbed “Connect Illinois.” That summer, Schmit was recruited from Minnesota to stand up the office that would oversee the grant program and Illinois’ broadband efforts. Schmit was impressed by the state’s commitment to broadband infrastructure, it’s past approach to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding a decade earlier, and the fact that Illinois was home to strong institutional support, such as the University of Illinois System, the University of Chicago, and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. Illinois was impressed with Minnesota’s Border-to-Border program, which Schmit had played a large part in creating while serving as Minnesota state senator. Minnesota was ahead of the curve, and Illinois would be, too.