News from past year

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FCC Awards 1.5 Million to Illinois Broadband Carriers for Lifeline Pilot Program

Roxana Ryan, Dec 19, 2012

“Better Broadband, Better Lifeline” Program Will Provide Discounted Service, Training and Internet Devices to Low-Income Illinois Residents

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, December 19, 2012 – Residents in 35 rural Illinois counties are set to receive $1.5 million in discounted internet service, digital literacy training, and low-cost internet devices as part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Lifeline Adoption Pilot Program Competition, the FCC today announced.

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!

Cyber Broadcasting Utilizes Mapping Data to Expand, Serve Housing Authorities

Roxana Ryan, Dec 6, 2012

Cesare Bratta is the President of Cyber Broadcasting, LLC, based out of Coal City. He frequently attends eTeam meetings in the Northwest and North Central regions and has even utilized Broadband Illinois speed-tier maps to expand his coverage area. 

Joink LLC Expands Service Area in East Central Illinois

Roxana Ryan, Dec 6, 2012

Brian Gray is the Network Manager at Joink LLC, a provider of high-speed internet in Southeast Central Illinois and Western Indiana.

Are you serving any interesting anchor institutions or businesses that are using your services to do innovative things?

Absolutely!  We provide Internet connectivity to many medical facilities, local governments, K-12 schools, and home businesses in Illinois and Indiana.  As for distance learning, I know we have a number of home users who use the Internet for getting higher education online.  Usually, these are adults who have full-time jobs and are trying to improve their lives by receiving a college education.

Mid Century Telephone Builds Fiber to Recreational Community

Roxana Ryan, Dec 6, 2012

Broadband Illinois interviewed Brenda Soland, Commerical Manager at Mid Century Telephone Cooperative about a new fiber expansion to the resort community of Oak Run and other happenings at the North Central Illinois company. 

Special Edition Broadband Provider Newsletter

Roxana Ryan, Dec 6, 2012

 See Who's Updating, Expanding and Innovating in Illinois in this special edition newsletter.

Rahm's broadband plan draws lots of interest

Greg Hinz on Crain's Chicago Business, Nov 28, 2012

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to position Chicago for the digital age has received a warm reception from telecom providers, with more than a score of companies, including industry leaders, seriously kicking tires on the idea of providing ultra-high-speed broadband and expanded free Wi-Fi service here.

Center for Digital Inclusion is Established at the University of Illinois

Center for Digital Inclusion, Nov 21, 2012

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) is proud to announce the establishment of the Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The CDI strives to foster inclusive and sustainable societies through research, teaching, and public engagement about information and communication technologies (ICT).

We need your vote!

Roxana Ryan, Nov 20, 2012

We need your vote to get Better Broadband to more Illinoisans!
Broadband Illinois is competing in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest and a $25,000 grand prize is up for grabs.

Chicago Public Schools, Microsoft, United Way team up to provide ‘digital literacy’

ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times, Nov 19, 2012

Mary Ann Moore-Lockhart says her two sisters didn’t know a mouse “is not something you catch in a trap’’ until they got computer training at a new Parent Engagement Center at Chicago’s Libby School.

Mayor Emanuel, CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Microsoft and United Way Announce the Opening of 12 New Parent Engagement Centers in CPS

Press Release Mayor's Press Office, Nov 19, 2012

Centers Are Being Piloted in 12 Schools As Part of the Administration’s Focus on Encouraging Parental Involvement in Their Children’s Education; Pilot Is A Collaboration with Microsoft, United Way and Chicago Public Schools That Helps Parents Develop the Digital Skills they Need to Help Their Children Continue Learning

Broadband Research Conference, Meet the GIS Team, East Central Broadband Summit, and more!

Roxana Ryan, Nov 15, 2012

Read about the upcoming Broadband Research Conference, the great work from the GIS Team, the East Central Broadband Summit and more in the latest edition of the Broadband Illinois newsletter!

Finding and Nurturing New Internet Users

Drew Clark, Nov 15, 2012

We've been collecting and publishing data about broadband supply for more than two years. We've submitted six rounds of this data to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the National Broadband Map. Our Broadband Illinois website features a plethora of resources, maps, and tools created with this information. Studying the ways Illinoisans adopt to and use broadband is another key piece of the "broadband picture." This month, we are pleased to release a series of pathbreaking research reports into broadband usage. 

New Report Reveals Regional Differences in Illinois Broadband Usage

Roxana Ryan, Nov 14, 2012

The digital divide prevails in areas of Southern and Western Illinois where less than 60 percent of residents use high-speed internet services at their home, according to a report on broadband adoption and usage released today by Broadband Illinois. 

Our Town Grows: Web Tools Sustain Life, Learning and Local Commerce Everywhere

Layton Olson, Nov 12, 2012

People now meet on the street and in local web places. How is this done? How do Internet tools help the local economy? Read the full blog post by Layton Olson to find some answers to these questions, featured here on Broadband Illinois!

Lighting and Heating Main Street and Residential Areas

Layton Olson, Nov 6, 2012

Utilities and Broadband as Foundations for Economic Vitality in Rural and Urban Places

What does it take to upgrade lighting and heating utilities to achieve 21^st Century energy savings and productivity?  How do decisions about Energy and the Environment – as one of seven needs identified in FCC National Broadband Plan – help local community institution networks gain confidence in their Digital Age visions for economic future?

Data Updates, Gigabit Challenge Winners, Chicago Deadline Extensions and more!

Oct 25, 2012

Read the latest newsletter from Broadband Illinois including updates on our data, Gigabit Challenge Winners,  and Chicago Deadline Extensions.

Sandburg College Tops in Digital Education

Oct 25, 2012

GALESBURG, IL  - Carl Sandburg College has been named the national champion in the small colleges category of the eighth annual Digital Community Colleges Survey by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education.

This is the sixth year in a row Sandburg has been named one of the top 10 colleges in its category, which includes schools with less than 5,000 students.

“Carl Sandburg College is thrilled to be recognized as the No. 1 community college in our category for the entire United States. It is truly an honor,” President Dr. Lori Sundberg said. “The kudos for this award goes directly to our outstanding Information Technology Department and our Vice President of Administrative Services and CIO, Samuel Sudhakar.”

Broadband Illinois Updates Carrier Information on Website, Including 'Find Broadband Tool'

Roxana Ryan, Clayton Black, Oct 24, 2012

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, October 24, 2012 -- Broadband Illinois has submitted its sixth round of data to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In this submission, 69 internet carriers provided data on coverage and broadband speeds and Illinois' updates will be included in the National Broadband Map. Fourteen of these 69 carriers are submitting their coverage areas to Broadband Illinois for the first time.

Governor Quinn Launches Illinois Open Technology Challenge

Governor Quinn's Press Office, Oct 22, 2012

Competition Expands Availability of Local Public Data; Encourages Technology Innovation and Job Creation in Pilot Communities Belleville, Rockford, Champaign and the South Suburbs

CHICAGO – October 20, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a major accountability and transparency initiative designed to help local governments expand the amount of data available to the public. The Illinois Open Technology Challenge is a pilot initiative that will make Illinois’ open data platform, Data.Illinois.Gov, available to municipal governments statewide. The Challenge, which will launch in the pilot communities of Belleville, Champaign, Rockford, and Chicago’s South Suburbs, will promote the availability of public data and encourage the use of technology to address government challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Deadlines Extended for Chicago Broadband Challenge

Roxana Ryan, Oct 18, 2012

CHICAGO, October 18, 2012 -- The City of Chicago has issued extensions for all deadlines pertaining to Mayor Emanuel's Chicago Broadband Challenge. 

Governor Quinn Announces First Winner of Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge

Governor Quinn's Press Office, Oct 16, 2012

CHICAGO – October 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that nine Chicago neighborhoods are the first beneficiaries of the Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge, a statewide competition to establish ultra-high speed broadband networks across Illinois. The state is awarding $2 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding to Gigabit Squared, which in partnership with Cook County, the city of Chicago and the University of Chicago, will deploy gigabit fiber and wireless in neighborhoods on Chicago’s mid-south side.

Governor Quinn Announces Second Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge Winner

Governor Quinn's Press Office, Oct 16, 2012

AURORA – October 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that OnLight Aurora is a recipient of an Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge award, a statewide competition to establish ultra-high speed broadband networks across Illinois. The state is awarding $1 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding to OnLight Aurora to help connect the city of Aurora’s fiber optic network to its education, business, and healthcare communities and accelerate economic growth and job creation.

South Side Gigabit Challenge and Chicago's Broadband Future

Roxana Ryan, Oct 16, 2012

CHICAGO- October 16, 2012 -- Governor Pat Quinn today announced the first winner of the Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge, Gigabit Squared. The company, the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Cook County, will receive $2 million in seed funding to jumpstart a fiber optic and wireless network in nine South Side Chicago neighborhoods. 

Illinois' Broadband Moment, Round 6 Speed Tier Map, and Pavlov Media!

Roxana Ryan, Oct 12, 2012

Read more about recent news and happenings with Broadband in and around Illinois!

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