Federal Broadband

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) included over $1.3 billion in federal support for the Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program and related digital equity initiatives. This page will include regular updates on the planning, preparation, and progress underway in advance of historic state-federal collaboration to eliminate the digital divide. All of this work is data driven, applying sophisticated analytics on current conditions and key findings from our ambitious 54-stop statewide listening tour.

All dates referenced in BEAD materials are subject to change, per National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) direction and approval.

BEAD Map Challenge Process

• Access challenge process resources.

Digital Equity (DE) Capacity Grant Program (IIJA)

• State Digital Equity Plan (Final, Approved by NTIA April 10, 2024)
  • Appendix

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program (IIJA)

• Five-Year Action Plan
• Initial Proposal, Volume I | BEAD Location/CAI Identification & Challenge Process
  • Draft for Public Comment (September 2023)
  • Final version (Approved by NTIA)
• Initial Proposal, Volume II | BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process
  • Draft for Public Comment (September 2023)
  • Current Draft (December 2023)
    
• Initial Proposal Public Comment Summary

Capital Projects Fund (CPF, ARPA)

• 2023 Annual Performance Report

Please refer to this page for updates regarding draft content, timelines, and procedures. Questions can be directed to broadband@illinois.gov.

To report fraud, waste, or abuse, contact the Office of the Inspector General at (866) 814-1113 or file a complaint.