IL To Receive $1B In Funding For High-Speed Internet Access: Pritzker

ILLINOIS — Saying it will build upon his Connect Illinois broadband infrastructure plan, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday the state will receive over $1 billion in federal funding to support high-speed internet access and adoption. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, or BEAD, will help connect "all Illinoisans" to high-speed internet services as part of President Joe Biden's Internet for All initiative, according to Pritzker.

"I am committed to making Illinois a leader when it comes to technology and innovation, and access to broadband is a critical service for all residents who rely on high-speed internet for everything from healthcare and education, to running a business," Pritzker said in a news release.

Connect Illinois, the $420 million broadband infrastructure Pritzker's administration created in 2019, includes allocating $400 million to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to deploy statewide broadband expansion. This is intended especially for rural families and communities that have been the most impacted by the digital divide, according to the release. It includes $20 million to repair, enhance, and expand broadband for schools with a focus on K-12 education.