Broadband Innovation Tour Attracts Hundreds
Roxana Ryan
Published: August 28, 2012
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, August 28, 2012 -- The Illinois Broadband Innovation Fund is generating interest throughout the state with hundreds attending three webinars and four stakeholder meetings to learn about the new internet adoption and usage initiative.
The Broadband Innovation Fund will award up to $500,000 to private, public, and non-profit organizations seeking to utilize high-speed internet connections as a platform to improve education, healthcare, agriculture and more. Applications are due September 11, 2012 and a statewide promotional effort is underway.
The Broadband Innovation Tour has visited Springfield, Chicago, Mattton, Carbondale and Moline and will conclude this week with visits to Godfrey, Peoria and Macomb.
Open to a variety of sectors, the grant program prompts applicants to use broadband networks to create better lives for Illinoisans.
"We purposefully created a request for proposals that is very broad," said Anne Madonia, Program Director at Broadband Illinois. "We want this to be a statewide effort to unleash the creativity of our entrepreneurs and innovators. Additionally, we hope this opportunity will result in models that can improve the lives of citizens across the state."
For full program information, including the application, request for proposals, FAQs, videos, news items, and more visit www.broadbandillinois.org/innovation.
Remaining Broadband Innovation Tour dates:
Broadband Innovation Tour and Stakeholder Summaries:
- More than 150 registered for two kick-off Springfield webinars on August 16-17. An overview of the request for proposals was presented and questions were answered and posted to the FAQ page.
- The Chicago webinar and stakeholder meeting on August 22 focused on broadband access and adoption issues in the Chicagoland region. Representatives from the Smart Communities initiatives shared information on their programs.
- In Mattoon, providers from the Southeast Central eTeam region shared information on network builds and expansions. Areas in need of service were also identified. Broadband training opportunities for farmers and senior citizens were shared.
- More than forty education officials, providers, and broadband enthusiasts attended the Northwest eTeam meeting. The need for access in rural areas of the region and more bandwidth capabilities for schools was discussed.
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