Joseph States

The fiber-optic race is on in Lake County (IL), or so declares at least one internet service provider building in the county, with the region proving a popular market that has seen a growing need for broadband internet. While there was a federal-level push under the Biden administration for high-speed internet access to be “fiber forward,” Lake County Board member Jennifer Clark said the Trump administration has shifted focus to include technologies like Starlink.

The Lake County (IL) Digital Equity Coalition is proud of the work it’s done getting vulnerable populations connected to the modern world, but uncertainty lies ahead for it and many programs as COVID-era federal funding draws to a close. The coalition is part of the broader Digital Growth Initiative, which came about when the Broadband and Digital Equity Action Plan was passed in December 2023 through the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.