Community Broadband Development

Illinois Extension 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 toward community and county broadband development and digital equity.

DESIGN

Survey Templates: BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE | BROADBAND ADOPTION

Contact us to launch your next survey and get assistance with planning, data collection, and analysis.

LEARN

BEAD-Funded Connect Illinois Round 4: Wave 2 Application Tips

JUNE 3 & 4 | Join the Illinois Office of Broadband online for instructions, application templates, and resources to assist participation in Wave 2 of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

Advancing Community Broadband

RECORDING | Learn how to work with existing local ISPs and legacy broadband providers, support the start-up of community-owned ISPs, specifically electric co-op strategies for starting new, community-owned ISPs.

Broadband Development Education

PLAYLIST | Learn about how to better situate your communities for broadband access, adoption, and use. Learn how to apply for and manage grants and enhance your communities' skills to access digital opportunities.

Outreach and Impact

Broadband Deployment and Project Management

Illinois Extension reached over 5000 professionals by partnering in outreach and technical assistance aimed at community engagement, education, planning, and development for community-driven broadband expansion.

Digital Solutions and Digital Skills

Illinois Extension reached over 3500 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.