Kicking Off Statewide Broadband and Digital Equity Planning
Kicking Off Statewide Broadband and Digital Equity Planning In December, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Illinois received $6.5 million for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity program planning. Illinois will begin work on the required plans: one will guide use of the estimated $1 billion in forthcoming BEAD support for state broadband access expansion; the second will support creation of the State Digital Equity Plan, which will guide $50 million or more in anticipated digital equity grants. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the basis for the BEAD and Digital Equity programs, the planning funding for which will support extensive local coordination, outreach, and engagement to advance access, adoption, use, digital inclusion and equity. Please join the Illinois Office of Broadband director, Matt Schmit, and colleagues, to hear more about the planning processes. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions during a Q and A following the presentation.
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