The Plan for a Connected Illinois

Illinois is home to over 12.7 million individuals in approximately 4.9 million families who speak over 20 languages. These families live in 102 counties that range from the dense urban areas found in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties to the rural areas in Pope and Stark counties; from Illinois’ manufacturing centers like the Quad Cities, Rockford, and Greater Peoria regions to the farmlands of Gallatin, White, and Sangamon counties. Common to all of these communities and geographies is the way they stay connected to each other and to the broader global community; how they access healthcare, education, and other essential services; and, increasingly, how they sustain their livelihoods within the digital economy: by using high-speed internet in our homes and community anchor institutions. The Illinois Office of Broadband now seeks public comment on the draft Illinois State Digital Equity Plan. The goal of the draft Illinois State Digital Equity Plan is to enable populations with the education and tools necessary to fully leverage digital assets that are powered by reliable, high-speed internet, so that all Illinoisians can fully participate in the digital economy and the digital ecosystem. The Office of Broadband is accepting feedback on the draft plan through COB on January 31, 2024.