Illinois Puts $420M Toward Broadband Internet Expansion

Gov J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) launched Connect Illinois, a $420 million statewide broadband expansion project included in the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. Rebuild Illinois dedicated $400 million to partnering with Internet service providers and $20 million to the Illinois Century Network, which currently services K-12 schools, higher education, public libraries, museums, state and local governments, and the health-care community. To oversee the broadband initiative, Gov Pritzker appointed 25 people from the private and public sectors to a broadband advisory council. Gov Pritzker said Rebuild Illinois, which was passed and signed into law in June, will improve the state’s infrastructure and facilitate future economic and education growth. The goal of Connect Illinois is to consolidate state resources and increase private- and public-sector collaboration to expand broadband access to benefit telehealth, education and economic development.