News from Broadband Illinois, April 4th, 2012

Governor Quinn’s Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge marks an exciting time for broadband deployment in Illinois. The challenge, open to any private or public organization, invites applicants to build innovative high-speed broadband deployment projects for at least 1,000 end-users.
 
Through this challenge, broadband providers have the opportunity, working with their communities, to build robust applications enabling deployment of the highest-connectivity internet available. Today, Governor Pat Quinn announced an extension to the original due date: the deadline to apply is now June 30, 2012.
 
Our organization is working to facilitate informational and technical resources to interested applicants. We’ve hosted a series of webinars and are continuing to convene key broadband players in communities across Illinois. In addition to broadband mapping, information and databases of economic development, we can help coordinate the players in your community for making your application as complete as possible.
 
Inspire your community to begin an application and email our eTeams to learn more about the resources we offer.   

Since 1951, McDonough Telephone Cooperative has provided advanced telecommunications infrastructure to more than 20 communities throughout Western Illinois.
 
The co-op continues to expand fiber optic networks to the homes and businesses of more than 3,700 members, offering voice, data, IPTV, offsite data storage, web development and hosting services.
 
McDonough Telephone is dedicated to helping their communities advance by providing the most advanced technologies.
 
“Forming partnerships with other rural telephone companies gives us dedicated fiber optic connectivity to both Chicago and St. Louis, effectively allowing us access to more and more bandwidth as demand rises,” said Bill Buchanan, President.
 
To see coverage areas, contact information, and more visit the recently updated provider pages, including McDonough's, on the Broadband Illinois website. 

The Western Illinois Technology Services Group, a subgroup of the West Central Illinois eTeam, hosted a full-day Technology Summit in Carthage this January. Seven speakers presented on everything from social networking to fiber optics in the home, and gave updates on broadband in the region.
 
Prior to the summit, we facilitated an internet providers meeting for the West Central eTeam region. The group worked on plans for expanding Internet access in the region and discussed issues related to broadband development.
 
The West Central eTeam will meet again on April 10 to review broadband initiatives in other regions, identify assets, develop goals, strategies, and action items to ensure all residents and businesses in the region have access to and are able to effectively use broadband. 

Northwest eTeam meeting- 10 a.m. Thursday, April 5 at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon
West Central eTeam Meeting- 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 at Western Illinois University in Macomb
North Central eTeam meeting- 2 p.m. Thursday, April 12 at Heartland Partnership in Peoria. 

Would you like to know more about us and broadband happenings around the state? Do you know someone who would benefit from receiving this newsletter? Please forward!
 
Contact Roxana Ryan, Communication Specialist, with suggestions, questions or feedback about this newsletter and our organization at roxana@broadbandillinois.org.
 
Your feedback helps inform and improve our quest for Better Broadband, Better Lives