Annual Regional Broadband Summit in East Central Illinois Set

Published: October 18, 2013
Related to: Southeast Central eTeam

New developments that may benefit your community, business, school or organization, will be highlighted at the 4th Annual East Central Illinois Broadband Summit.  The event will be Thursday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Education Center of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, Mattoon.

The Summit, which attracted more than 100 attendees last year, will convene broadband vendors, industry experts, government representatives, businesses, librarians, health professionals, educators, residents, economic development groups and other community leaders concerned with internet advancement.

Exhibitors and presenters will offer information about broadband service options and planned broadband expansion projects in the region. This will include presentations by representatives of Broadband Illinois, Illinois Century Network, PEG, Alcatel Lucent, Consolidated Communications, Metro Communications, and the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Attendees will also learn real examples of how to use the Internet as a tool to improve health care, education, business, and tourism from organizations such as ECIDC, Illinois Farm Bureau, Helen Matthes Library, and Integrated Therapy Services.

“Utilizing broadband and expanding its access to all areas in the region is vital to our economic growth and quality of life for our citizens,” said ECIDC President Brian Moody, who also serves as Director of Tuscola Economic Development Inc.

The event is hosted by Broadband Illinois and East Central Illinois Development Corporation (ECIDC). Broadband Illinois is a non-profit organization based in Springfield with a mission to collect broadband data, increase broadband access, and maximize broadband's impact. ECIDC is a non-profit organization focused on positive economic growth and an enhanced quality of life for all residents in its 11-county region (Christian, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Jasper, Moultrie and Shelby Counties).

The public is invited to attend, and pre-registration is required. Admission is $10. A box lunch will be served.  Please register online by visiting www.ecidc.com or by contacting Jean Anne Grunloh, ECIDC Executive Director, at (217) 540-3517 or jgrunloh@lakeland.cc.il.us. Registration deadline is November 30, 2013.

For more information or to view the Summit’s agenda, please visit www.ecidc.com.

Event Agenda

11:00 Registration, Informational Booths and Networking

11:30 Networking Lunch 

12:30 Welcome by Brian Moody, ECIDC President & Executive Director of Tuscola Economic Dev. Inc.

12:40 Regional Broadband Success Stories by Barbara Webster, Broadband Illinois Regional Leader

12:50 Broadband Access Updates (three to five minutes each)

      • Consolidated Communications, Inc.

      • Association of Illinois Electric Coops (AIEC) 

      • Illinois Century Network

      • Metro Communications Inc.

      • Mediacom • Frontier Communications

      • PEG

      • Alcatel Lucent 

1:30  Expert panelists / Q & A

1:40  Broadband Adoption Updates (three to five minutes each)

     • East Central Illinois Events Web Site

     •  Helen Matthes Library 

     • Zoom.us

     •  Sarah Weiler - Telemedicine In Use

     • Google/Illinois Free Web Page at www.gybo.com/illinois

     •  eGovt  Sites and Business Web Page Development at aiec.coop

     •  Farm Bureau

     •  Computer Banc 

2:15  Expert panelists / Q & A

2:25  Closing Remarks by Jean Anne Grunloh, ECIDC Executive Director 

Drawing for door prizes including free computer sponsored by Computer Banc  (must be  present to win) 

 

2:30 - 3:00 Informational Booths and Networking