Gov. Pritzker Urges Trump Administration to Approve Broadband Expansion Plan

Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) urged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to promptly approve Illinois’ Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, which would deliver $1.04 billion in federal funding to expand broadband access to more than 383,000 Illinois residents, the vast majority living in rural communities. Illinois and California are the only two states awaiting approval. “Service providers are ready to get shovels in the ground on 232 construction projects to connect Illinois homes and businesses,” said Gov. Pritzker. “With each passing day, progress is stalled, costs rise and the financial impact for providers continue to grow as they wait for these critical projects to move forward. All of this breaks your promise to get Americans connected faster and stands in the way of economic progress and prosperity for impacted families and business owners.” Gov. Pritzker warned that the delay is stalling critical infrastructure projects and creating uncertainty for providers prepared to begin work across the state. Illinois currently has 232 broadband construction projects ready to move forward.