Governor announces first round of grants to expand broadband access

Posted on February 7, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement at Ridgely Elementary School in Springfield. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Broadband access will be available to more of rural Illinois, with $50 million in capital funds available as matching funds announced by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“This isn’t about a person’s ability to go online and just look at their Facebook page,” Pritzker said during Wednesday’s announcement at Ridgely Elementary School in Springfield. “This is about a small business owner having the tools that she needs to reach new customers. This is about giving children – like the ones here today – the ability to research their homework assignments online.”

Telehealth joins business development and education as the three targeted areas of the governor’s broadband program.

Demonstrating that replacing bulky books with online tools will give you lots more room in your backpack, Ridgely principal Ken Gilmore reached into his and pulled out … an apple for the teacher.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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