Community Broadband Development

Illinois Extension’s Local Government Education (LGE) program partners with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Illinois Office of Broadband and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, in free and publicly accessible outreach aimed to extend critical high-speed internet access across the state.

Watch!

Illinois Office of Broadband Updates on blue background with fiber optics
Digital Equity Basics for Illinois
FEB 9 | Join the Illinois Broadband Lab to learn the definition of digital equity and looking at the state of Illinois’ work thus far towards digital equity and its future goals.
Illinois Office of Broadband Updates on blue background with internet icon
Kicking Off Statewide Broadband and Digital Equity Planning
Recording | Join Illinois Office of Broadband to hear more about BEAD and Digital Equity ACT plans for Illinois outreach and local engagement to advance access, adoption, use, digital inclusion and equity.
broadband updates
Illinois Office of Broadband Update: FCC National Broadband Map
Listen to the Illinois Office of Broadband discuss the new FCC National Broadband Map and how interaction can help localities clarify broadband access issues.
broadband updates
Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program
Accelerate Illinois will run a 3rd round of community, county, or regional broadband infrastructure deployment planning. The program, led by the Illinois Broadband Lab and collaborating with Illinois Extension, has an application deadline of December 2.
Digital Inclusion in your Community
Digital Inclusion in your Community
Recording | Learn about the root causes of the digital divide, three key elements to digital inclusion, the power of digital inclusion coalitions, and funding. We will share examples of digital inclusion programs and coalitions throughout the country.
Easements and Right of Ways
Broadband Build Out Webinar Series: Easements and Right of Ways
Recording | The Illinois Farm Bureau and Township Officials of Illinois discuss how to avoid conflicts with landowners and road authorities when building out fiber..
Illinois Rail Roads
Broadband Build Out Series: Illinois Railroads
Recording | Learn about Illinois railroad infrastructure and cooperation vis-a-vis broadband infrastructure implementation. Several professionals will explain the processes necessary for broadband leaders and their partners to avoid conflicts.
Broadband Updates
Illinois Broadband Webinar Recordings
Recording | Peruse and tune into various community broadband webinars from the past year.
Illinois connected communities
Illinois Broadband Access, Adoption, and Use
RECORDINGS: What do we need and how do we get it? Learn about fiber optic networks, fixed wireless, and how to know which is best for you. See how to obtain your community and county level access data to show need, and how to gear up partnerships.
IL office of broadband updates on fiber optic background
Illinois Broadband Grants: Application Process, Planning, and Preparation
RECORDINGS| Learn about best planning practices for infrastructure opportunities, the Illinois ACCELERATE collaboration opportunity, and Connect Illinois Round 3 infrastructure grants.
Broadband Leadership
Broadband Leadership Webinar Series
RECORDINGS: See all sessions from 2021 Developing Broadband Leadership Series, co-hosted by the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society and the Illinois Office of Broadband

2021 Outreach and Impact

1228
Funding and Collaboration Opportunities
In 2021, Illinois Extension helped educate over 1,000 community leaders on state and federal level broadband development opportunities, providing best methods for applying to support community broadband expansion efforts.
714
Broadband Infrastructure Planning and Strategy
Illinois Extension partnered in outreach to over 700 participants on how to organize and mobilize community partners and prepare to obtain funding, strategically plan, or assess need for broadband.
416
Broadband Project Management
Illinois Extension provided partnered outreach, providing individuals knowledge on moving a broadband project forward, deploying broadband infrastructure amidst a pandemic, and best practices from community success stories.

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