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Illinois is the site of a pioneering federal pilot project that will supply qualifying customers of seven rural Illinois phone companies with a refurbished computer for $50 and a year’s worth of high-speed Internet access for as low as $9.95 a month, consumer advocates and telecommunications companies announced Tuesday.
Organizers of “Better Broadband, Better Lifeline” say the pilot project—one of only 14 in the nation—will target an urgent need in Illinois, where roughly four out of 10 low income families still don’t subscribe to high-speed Internet.
Participating Eligible Telecommunication Carriers include: Adams Telephone Co-Operative, Cass Telephone Company, Harrisonville Telephone Company, Madison Telephone Company, Mid Century Telephone Cooperative, Shawnee Telephone Company, and Wabash Telephone Cooperative.
Broadband Illinois convened the inaugural Broadband Telemedicine Summit on Monday, May 20, bringing together healthcare leaders, government officials and broadband enthusiasts from three states to discuss how high-speed internet is revolutionizing the medical industry.
The event attracted about 200 people and concluded with an action planning session led by the Telehealth Resource Centers serving Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. This session identified potential telehealth solutions for targeted needs and developed specific action steps for each segment, including inpatient, outpatient, mental health and home telehealth. For an archive of this event, including slides and videos, click here.