SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois will receive at least $100 million to expand broadband access across the state through the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, which was expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden at press time for this publication. The funding is in addition to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic $420 million Connect Illinois broadband infrastructure plan, a part of Rebuild Illinois. 

The federal grant money will be targeted toward connecting the estimated 228,000 Illinois residents who remain without access to high speed broadband. In addition, around 2.9 million low-income Illinois residents will become eligible for the “Affordable Connectivity Benefit,” making internet access more affordable. 

“Our farmers will be able to get more engaged in precision agriculture and climate smart farming,” said Rep. Cheri Bustos, who joined 12 other Illinois House Democrats and Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger in voting “yes” on the infrastructure bill (Illinois House Republicans Mike Bost, Rodney Davis, Mary Miller and Darin LaHood voted against the bill). “They’re going to be able to reduce inputs, mitigate climate outputs, increase yield and grow their bottom lines.”

In a news release, Illinois Senate Democrats Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced that Illinois would receive some $17 billion in total from the infrastructure bill. In addition to expanding broadband infrastructure, the bill will cover federal highway projects, public transportation enhancements, drinking and wastewater infrastructure and airport improvements. 

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a once-in-a-generation reinvestment to mend our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges, expand public transit and rail, and provide clean drinking water and broadband to our communities in need,” said Durbin. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this landmark legislation on communities in Illinois.”

“This Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal makes transformative investments to enhance our global competitiveness, economic prosperity and public health and create good-paying jobs,” added Duckworth.

The funding comes on the heels of Pritzker’s announcement in October that a new “Illinois Broadband Lab” had been dedicated to host maps, drive research and evaluation, and promote regional engagement and program integration for broadband expansion. Along with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Pritzker unveiled a new interactive Connect Illinois Broadband Map to provide residents and communities with up-to-date data on broadband connectivity in their area. In addition, an online speed test was established to identify gaps and tailor planning efforts to boost high-speed internet access in underserved areas.

These resources are available to the public through the Illinois Broadband Lab website at www.ibl.illinois.edu. The website, administered by the University of Illinois’ technology services unit in Champaign-Urbana, allows residents to enter their home address to access information about local broadband suppliers, service levels and technology available in their area. 

For community planners and other stakeholders, the new mapping and speed test tools will provide service level information as well as socioeconomic data and jurisdictional boundaries. The information will be helpful for submitting grant applications, leveraging new federal funding, and developing local plans to improve broadband access and adoption, according to a news release issued by the governor’s office.

Unlike previous broadband mapping efforts, the new tool will provide more “timely, granular, and accurate” data on broadband service, with an ongoing ability for residents to run speed tests that will continue to fuel the accuracy of the maps over time. 

“Access to high speed, reliable internet is not a luxury — it’s a necessity  for healthcare, success in school, and to compete in a 21st century economy,” said Pritzker. “Keeping our communities connected has never been more important than it is today. The Illinois Broadband Lab will empower communities with the data, mapping, and related resources necessary for them to take full advantage of historic state and federal investment in broadband access and adoption.”

Pritzker launched the state’s largest-ever broadband expansion initiative in June 2020, announcing $50 million in Connect Illinois grants for 28 projects touching every region of the state. The $50 million in state grant money was matched by $65 million in nonstate funding, with plans to expand high speed internet access to more than 26,000 previously unserved homes, businesses, farms, and community institutions across Illinois.