- Published: 19 July 2021
ROCKFORD – State Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) congratulated the Region 1 Planning Council on winning an important grant to help expand broadband access throughout the Northern Stateline region, which includes the Rockford area.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced the first list of grant recipients for the Broadband Regional Engagement for Adoption + Digital Equity (READY).
“Internet access is becoming as important as telephones and electricity for many citizens, and Illinois is looking to get them connected with better speeds,” Stadelman said. “High speed internet will help many people in the Rockford area work and search for work, connect families, and help students who need access to educational information.”
The inaugural READY program is a first of its kind, with $200,000 already awarded to four regional entities to accelerate progress in eliminating the digital divide. The program is meant to fuel local efforts to increase digital equity for homeowners and citizens who lack access to high-speed internet.