About Us

GOALS

• To increase Broadband access

• To increase useful adoption

The 20-county Southern Regional eTeam is based upon a history of successful broadband initiatives developed by Connect SI. Connect SI has been involved in demand aggregation via its “I Want My Broadband” program. The heightened awareness of the need for increased broadband capacity in Southern Illinois has contributed greatly to the success of a proposal by Clearwave to construct a 740-mile fiber infrastructure project for this part of the State.

The Southern Regional eTeam will develop a regional broadband action plan for networking partners, gathering data, and utilizing resources to address the area's unmet needs for broadband services and create a regional infrastructure design. 

We will initially focus on the following objectives in order to develop a regional plan and meet our goals:

1. Determine DEMAND/NEEDS within each county and use the data to address the needs
2. Determine SUPPLY within each county and use the data to address needs
3. Network with collaborate partners with similar objectives
4. Promote and educate on beneficial uses of broadband
5. Review local, state, and federal planning and policies, and act upon when appropriate

• Kathy Lively, Connect SI
• Rex Duncan, Southern Illinois University
• Steven Mitchell, Man-Tra-Con Corporation
• Brad Housewright, Broadband Illinois/Connect SI
• Woody Thorne, Southern Illinois Healthcare
• Bryce Cramer, Egyptian Electric Cooperative
• Jody Johnson, University of Illinois Extension
• Susan Odum, University of Illinois Extension
• Terry Bruce, Frontier Communications Company
• Cary Minnis, Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission
• Kim Watson, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Eric Gregg, Mayor, Harrisburg, Illinois
• Rob Knutson, Mt. Vernon Schools
• Bob Williams, Southern Illinoisan Newspaper
• Rodney Smith, Harrisburg Regional Hospital
• Troy Brown, Shawnee Library System
• Lori Cox, Small Business Development Center
• Brandon Bullard, Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce
• Ray Cagle, Network Provider Co-Chair, Clearwave Communications
• Eric Shadley, Network Provider Co-Chair, Frontier Communications

The Southern Regional eTeam will be working with existing initiatives, and aggregating demand in the area of adoption, while working with numerous Community Anchor Institutions. To become involved, please contact Brad Housewright at Broadband Illinois via email.