FCC Awards $100M For Rural Broadband In Illinois

Posted on September 9, 2018
Rural communities around Illinois will be getting better access to high-speed internet over the next decade (WJBC File Photo)

 

By Benjamin Yount/Illinois Radio Network

PEORIA – Rural parts of Illinois may finally get high-speed internet thanks to some new federal grants.

Almost $100 million dollars in funding is coming from the Federal Communications Commission thanks to subsidies and fees on customers’ phone and internet bills.

“The result was nine companies coming in to make this a possibility through an auction process,” said Randy Nehrt, President of the Illinois Telecommunications Association.  “The total will reach $100 million dollars for a 10 year period serving about 32,000 location across the state.”

The largest grant went to Wisper ISP, who will use its $35 million to serve 9,000 new customers in southern Illinois. The companies have only a decade to complete their projects.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…