Community Broadband Development

Illinois Extension partners with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Illinois Office of Broadband, Illinois Broadband Lab, and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society to provide outreach and assistance aimed toward community and county broadband development goals and digital equity. 

DESIGN

Survey Templates:  BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE  |  BROADBAND ADOPTION

Contact us for assistance with survey distribution planning, data collection, or analysis.

LEARN

Illinois Broadband Lab
Digital Equity Grants Capacity Building Series
MAY 29 | JUNE 5 | JUNE 12 | Learn how to pre-qualify, write strong digital equity grant proposals, and develop strong digital inclusion programs to enable your community’s access to today’s digital society and economy.
Illinois Office of Broadband Updates on blue background with internet icon
Illinois Update on BEAD, Digital Equity, and USDA ReConnect Funding
Recording | Update (as of May 2024) on BEAD, Digital Equity, and USDA ReConnect funding.
Broadband Breakthrough green with agricultural fields and clouds on the horizon
Broadband Breakthrough Infrastructure Planning Program 2024
Recordings | Learn alongside Illinois counties engaged in a 16-week broadband deployment planning process, with a focus on agriculture.
Digital Inclusion in your Community
Digital Inclusion in your Community
Recording | Learn about the root causes of the digital divide, three key elements to digital inclusion, the power of digital inclusion coalitions, and funding. We will share examples of digital inclusion programs and coalitions throughout the country.
Easements and Right of Ways
Broadband Build Out Webinar Series: Easements and Right of Ways
Recording | The Illinois Farm Bureau and Township Officials of Illinois discuss how to avoid conflicts with landowners and road authorities when building out fiber..
IL office of broadband updates on fiber optic background
Illinois Broadband Grants: Application Process, Planning, and Preparation
RECORDINGS| Learn about best planning practices for infrastructure opportunities, the Illinois ACCELERATE collaboration opportunity, and Connect Illinois Round 3 infrastructure grants.

2023 Outreach and Impact

5281 reached
Broadband Deployment and Project Management
Illinois Extension reached over 5000 professionals by partnering in outreach and technical assistance aimed at community engagement, education, planning, and development for community-driven broadband expansion.
3544 reached
Digital Access, Equity, and Inclusion
Illinois Extension reached over 3500 professionals with education on broadband adoption, use, and how communities might close the digital divide and increase opportunities for residents to access high speed internet and digital opportunities.
41 counties reached
Counties Engaged in Broadband Development
Illinois Extension provided cooperative services to help assist 41 counties in various phases of broadband development in 2023.

Contact a program manager for additional resources:

Nancy Ouedraogo

Nancy Ouedraogo

Extension State Specialist, Community Economic Development
Keywords
Local Government
Community Development
Community Planning
esarey@illinois.edu
217-244-7020