Deadline approaching to challenge Illinois broadband map

(The Center Square) – The time that Illinois residents will be able to challenge the look of the state’s broadband map is winding down.

Officials said it is an important process to verify the accuracy of the state’s availability map so funds will be distributed to the underserved areas. Underserved locations are those without reliable service of at least 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed.

“If you have much slower internet than what the state is believing, we need to flag those areas, so I encourage everyone to participate in the [Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity] broadband challenge process,” said state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, and co-chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules which is dealing with the distribution of federal taxpayer broadband funding.

Illinois was awarded just over $1 billion in broadband equity program funds from federal taxpayers, to be spent over the next five years, from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to connect unserved and under-served locations to quality, affordable broadband service. Illinois is one of 19 states to receive over $1 billion.

In 2023, five Illinois counties participated in the Benton Institute’s Broadband Breakthrough Program. It was designed to inform local leaders on how broadband expansion happens, how to conduct community surveys, and how to get a piece of the federal funding.

- Advertisement -

Illinoisans can participate in the challenge phase by completing internet speed tests at BEADchallenge.org. Speed tests completed anytime through March 18 will be accepted.

At the statewide level, Connect Illinois was created in 2019 to achieve ubiquitous statewide broadband access for homes and businesses. At the same time, Connect Illinois will promote digital literacy, adoption and inclusion while leveraging investment in new broadband infrastructure to spur advances in such areas as economic development, education, precision agriculture and telehealth.

Greg Bishop contributed to this report.

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Trump’s Federal Buyout Plan Sparks Outrage and Uncertainty

After public backlash and union pushback, the Trump administration...

Federal Worker Buyouts Halted by Judge After 40,000 Accept Offer

(AURN News) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked...

Republican lawmakers want schools to create cell phone policies

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to...

Hiring incentives help Bellevue police bring in 46 officers to the force in 2024

(The Center Square) – The Bellevue Police Department is...

Judge pauses Trump’s buyout plan hours before deadline

(The Center Square) – A federal judge on Thursday...

Texas AG demands info from school districts over transgender athlete policies

(The Center Square) – The Texas Attorney General’s office...

Marijuana legalization up for debate again in Tennessee

(The Center Square) – Two Democrats have filed bills...

Life sciences get a spotlight in Shapiro budget proposal

(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s universities - Pitt, UPenn...

More like this
Related

Trump’s Federal Buyout Plan Sparks Outrage and Uncertainty

After public backlash and union pushback, the Trump administration...

Federal Worker Buyouts Halted by Judge After 40,000 Accept Offer

(AURN News) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked...

Republican lawmakers want schools to create cell phone policies

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to...

Hiring incentives help Bellevue police bring in 46 officers to the force in 2024

(The Center Square) – The Bellevue Police Department is...