FAQ

Click on a subject below to view common questions and answers. Should you have any further questions, please contact us.

Finding broadband information

How do I check the internet speeds around my address?

Click below “Find broadband near you”, and enter your address information in the box. After you enter it, click on the search button to the right of the box.

What if I don't know my zip code?

You don't have to enter your zip code to get a result.

What if I don't want to type in an address?

You can type in a city name to get information on broadband speed in and around that particular city.

What is a carrier?

A carrier is an organization that provides access to the internet. There are more than 100 carriers throughout the state of Illinois, serving various regions and cities.

Can I click on the map to find speeds?

You can. Click on the street or area where you want to find broadband speeds, and the results will appear on the left.

What do the different colors mean on the results?

Red means that there is a fairly slow connection. Yellow means that the connection is less slow, but can still use improvement. Green ranges from an adequate connection to a fast connection.

In the results, what does Mbps mean?

Mbps stands for megabits per second. Megabits per second is a measurement of the speed of an internet connection. Higher speed connections are adequate for things like watching videos online and videochatting.

What do TYP and MAX mean?

TYP stands for the typical speeds that the carrier reaches, and MAX stands for the maximum speed the carrier is capable of reaching.

What do the green arrows stand for?

These indicate upload speed and download speed.

What does technology type mean?

Technology type indicates what infrastructure carriers use to send and received data from you. This can include broadband internet, wireless internet, DSL and dial-up internet.

How do I find places in the community near me that may let me use the internet?

Enter your address, press the search button, and then click on the blue button in the upper right hand corner with the text “Show community broadband centers” After you've clicked this, blue dots should appear on the screen. You can click on these blue dots to find out more information about each individual center.

How can I get a more detailed view of the information?

Go to the bottom of the list on the right hand side of the screen and click the text “See expanded results.”

How do I rate the speed of my carrier?

Click on the text “See expanded results”. At the bottom of the page that comes up, enter information under the text “Take our Broadband Survey”. You can tell us your carrier, give it a rating, indicate the price of your internet plan, and leave additional notes. You can also share the results on twitter or facebook. Send us a comment!

Contacting us

How do I get in touch with Broadband Illinois?

You can e-mail us at info@broadbandillinois.org or give us a call at 217-886-4228. We also encourage you to fill out our contact form on the contact page.

How do I find out who works at Broadband Illinois?

Click on the “about” link, and then click on staff.

How do I find out information on the board of Broadband Illinois?

Click on the “about” link and then click on board members.

How do I apply for a job at Broadband Illinois?

Click on the “about” link and then click on job opportunities.

Questions about accessing your eTeam information

Where in the site can I find additional eTeam information?

You can find information on eTeams by click on the eTeam link in upper right hand corner.