Durbin, Duckworth Announce $36 Million in Federal Funding to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Communities Across Rural Illinois | U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

10.28.22

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) at present introduced $36,103,607 in federal funding via the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) to convey high-speed web entry to folks dwelling and dealing throughout 13 counties in Illinois.  At present’s investments embody funding from the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act (IIJA), which supplied a historic $65 billion to increase dependable, reasonably priced, high-speed web to all communities throughout the US. 

“The pandemic emphasised that Illinoisans want entry to high-speed web to run their companies and farms, go to highschool, entry well being care, join with household and associates, and extra,” stated Durbin. “At present’s grant announcement for Hamilton County Phone Co-Op and Shelby Electrical Cooperative will assist make high-speed web entry a actuality for people throughout rural Illinois.  I’ll proceed to work with Sen. Duckworth to convey this federal funding residence to Illinois.” 

“Displaying up for rural communities means ensuring each single Illinoisan has entry to dependable electrical energy and broadband—regardless of their zip code,” Duckworth stated. “As we’ve seen all through the pandemic, we all know that web entry is essential for public well being, the success of small companies, educating our youngsters, enhancing high quality of life and a lot extra. I’m proud to hitch Senator Durbin in saying this important funding to convey broadband to extra communities in our state, and I’ll proceed to advocate for improved infrastructure for working households all throughout Illinois and our nation.”

At present’s announcement included federal funding for 2 Illinois Cooperatives:

1. Hamilton County Phone Co-Op: $12,413,362

This Rural Growth funding can be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises community to attach 3,202 folks, 248 farms, and 52 enterprise to high-speed web in Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Saline, Wayne, and White counties.  Hamilton County Phone Co-Op will make high-speed web reasonably priced by collaborating within the FCC’s Reasonably priced Connectivity and Lifeline packages.

1. Shelby Electrical Cooperative Inc.: $23,690,245

This Rural Growth funding can be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises community to attach 4,057 folks, 511 farms, 61 companies, and two instructional amenities to high-speed web in Christian, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie, and Shelby counties.  Shelby Electrical Cooperative will make high-speed web reasonably priced by collaborating within the FCC’s Reasonably priced Connectivity Program.

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