Galesburg Reporter

The Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program is taking applications for increasing broadband in Illinois homes as part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Connect Illinois statewide initiative.

“The Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program is now accepting applications,” Senator Win Stoller wrote on Facebook. “The program seeks to expand broadband access for Illinois homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions. Potential applications include businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, school districts, and local governments.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity noted Pritzker has been working on the effort since 2019.

The grant availability was published by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. It appears that the award range is $0 - $10,000,000, and the grant is funded up to $350,000,000. It was originally posted in January.

Broadband Search reported approximately 5.5% of Illinois residents don’t have an internet connection.

“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,” Pritzker said in a release. “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.”

Connect Illinois is the wider name for a variety of broadband-related initiatives. These include the Illinois Broadband Grant Program, Illinois Century Network, Broadband Advisory Council, and Illinois K-12 Broadband Initiative.

The Center Square reported the Federal Communication Commission is giving approximately $800 million to the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund that’ll get broadband providers to rural areas in states, including Illinois.

“There are almost 3,000 Starlink satellites that have already been launched and allowing people in areas of Michigan and other parts of the country so far, starting in Illinois next year, to connect with satellites,” Pritzker said to The Center Square.

Stoller was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2021. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Environment and Conservation Committee and Senate Higher Education Committee. Stoller is a senator who resides in Germantown Hills, according to the Illinois Senate.