Building Private-Public Partnerships is Key to Success for Broadband Expansion in Illinois- Drew Clark, Feb 20, 2013
We’ve seen multiple news articles in the first months of 2013 that present challenges and opportunities in our core broadband space. At Broadband Illinois, we’re tuned in to happenings in the high-speed realm both for our own state and for the lessons learned elsewhere.
New Report Reveals Increases in Broadband Adoption and Usage Among Chicago's Smart Communities- Roxana Ryan, Feb 7, 2013
- SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, February 6, 2013 -- Residents in neighborhoods participating in Chicago’s Smart Communities program are using high-speed internet more frequently, but greater access to affordable broadband at home remains an issue for at-risk communities, according to new research released today on the Broadband Illinois website.
Central Illinois Regional Broadband Network Bridges Digital Divide in Rural Areas- Roxana Ryan, Dec 6, 2012
- Broadband Illinois interviewed Scott Genung, Director of Telecommunications and Networking at Illinois State University, on the progress and goals of the Central Illinois Regional Broadband Network (CIRBN). The network, based out of Normal, is a federally funded project designed to provide high-speed, low-cost Internet connectivity to community anchor institutions (CAIs) and communities throughout Central Illinois. CIRBN will serve rural communities as well as K-12 school districts, healthcare, public safety, government, not-for-profit, and commercial institutions. The project is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2013!
Connected Living Program to get seniors online- Jul 11, 2011
Connected Living Program to get seniors online at the Western Illinois Area on Aging Office. Innovative technology with personal training allows tenants to explore and use the web.
- NTIA's State Broadband Initiative and the Illinois Broadband Map
- On Broadband, May 4, 2011
By Drew Clark
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 4, 2011 - Later today, at 2 p.m. CT, the Partnership for a Connected Illinois will kick off our "Wednesday Webinar" series, beginning with a discussion about the Illinois Broadband Map. Registration for this event is free.
PCI feels so passionately about the Illinois Broadband Map because data and information should be central to helping promote sound policies, and because evidence suggests that broadband is a key driver of job creation and economic activity.
- Thoughts On Broadband, the Internet, Business Incubation and Jobs
- Don Samuelson and John Lewis, Apr 12, 2011
Part of President Obama’s campaign platform was a “stimulus program” designed to create jobs as quickly as possible through the funding of “shovel ready” projects. There were WPA-like objectives in the rhetoric, which would put Americans to work repairing roads, bridges, airports and infrastructure. Unemployment was at record highs bolstering the demand for jobs and often expressed through the campaign rhetoric of “Jobs, Jobs and Jobs.” Another public policy objective also garnered a great deal of attention: an assumption that broadband availability in rural areas was important to the regions future economic development. In fact, the correlation between broadband availability and economic development is very similar to the 1936 Rural Electrification Act (REA) which underscored the importance of, and secured funding for, an infrastructure supporting electricity. Much of the campaign rhetoric about the need for public support of broadband deployment was similar to the arguments used for the REA.
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This paper is third party research and does not necessarily represent the views or receive the endorsement of The Partnership for a Connected Illinois. It is presented for consideration as a public service to the broadband community.
Illinois Broadband Awardees Headed to Washington; Aim to Build State Model for Broadband Deployment- Oct 27, 2010
- SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, October 27, 2010 – Illinois Recipients of the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) awards, part of the federal government's stimulus program, will be headed to the nation's capital for workshops on November 9th and 10th.