Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker

SPRINGFIELD, IL—Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker officially launched a $420-million “Connect Illinois” infrastructure initiative last week that will expand broadband to the health, education and economic development sectors.

The governor on Thursday named 25 members of the state’s Broadband Advisory Council. The Rebuild Illinois initiative, passed and signed into law in June 2019, dedicates $400 million to partnering with Internet service providers to build 21st century infrastructure connecting communities across the state to high-speed Internet. It also invests $20 million in the Illinois Century Network, an existing broadband network serving K-12 schools, higher education, public libraries, museums, state and local governments and the health care community.

“Rebuild Illinois will improve our infrastructure at a historic scale, and it lays the foundation for economic progress and educational success for the decades to come,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “High-speed broadband Internet is an absolute necessity for economic progress and educational attainment, but too many of our towns and counties and communities have been left out of the digital revolution, especially downstate. Our Broadband Advisory Council will be guided by three areas of focus for Illinois’ success in the 21st century: education, telehealth and economic development. By working together, we’re going to Connect Illinois.”