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, Illinois Broadband Lab, and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society to provide outreach and assistance aimed towards community and county broadband development goals and digital equity.

WATCH

Illinois Broadband Lab Series
Illinois Broadband Webinar Playlist
Recordings | Peruse recent broadband-related webinars
Illinois Office of Broadband Updates on blue background with fiber optics
Connect Illinois Rd 3 Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program
Recording | The $350M round leverages a combination of state and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to resume investment in broadband access expansion ahead of separate but complementary federal BEAD funding.
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 Breakthrough green with agricultural fields and clouds on the horizon
Broadband Breakthrough Infrastructure Planning Program 2023
Recordings | Learn alongside Illinois counties engaged in a 16-week broadband deployment planning process, with a focus on agriculture.
Illinois Accelerate and partners on purple swish of fiber optic
Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program
Recordings | Learn with Accelerate Illinois, a 14-week program with county steering teams wishing to plan and prepare for broadband infrastructure deployment.
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.
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.

2022 Outreach and Impact

3955
Broadband Deployment and Project Management
Illinois Extension reached almost 4000 professionals by partnering in outreach and technical assistance aimed at community engagement, education, planning, and development for community-driven broadband expansion.
1214 on multicolored fiber optic
Digital Access, Equity, and Inclusion
Illinois Extension reached over 1200 professionals with education on broadband adoption, use, and how communities might close the digital divide and increase opportunities for residents to access high speed internet and digital opportunities.
37
Counties Engaged in Broadband Development
Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development educators and specialists provided partnership, resources, and expertise in order to assist 37 counties in various phases of broadband development.

Connect with us for additional resources

Nancy Ouedraogo

Nancy Ouedraogo

Extension State Specialist, Community Economic Development
Keywords
Local government
Community development
Community planning
esarey@illinois.edu
217-244-7020