Broadband Office Name: Illinois Broadband Office (IOB)
BEAD Award Amount: $1.04 B
Illinois Broadband Director: Devon Braunstein
Website: https://dceo.illinois.gov/connectillinois/bead.html
Illinois BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approval | IP Vol 2 Approval | Challenge Process Submission Closed | Challenge Process Final Determination Phase Completed | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Illinois BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
The Illinois Broadband Office (IOB) has made significant progress, with its Initial Proposal Vol. 2 approved by NTIA on June 13, 2024.
The IOB completed the final adjudication stage of the Challenge Process. After NTIA’s review and approval, the final adjudications will be published.
Illinois BEAD Program Plans & Maps
Illinois BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
Illinois’ Goals and Objectives for Broadband Deployment and Digital Equity:
- Universal Access by 2030:
- Ensure all Illinoisans have access to affordable, reliable, fully scalable high-speed internet of at least 100/20 Mbps.
- Achieve access to at least 100/100 Mbps for all Illinoisans by 2035.
- CAI Connectivity:
- Provide every Community Anchor Institution (CAI) with at least 1 Gigabit symmetrical broadband service by 2030.
- Ensure all schools, libraries, and public health entities have at least 1 Gigabit.
- Expand the availability of public Wi-Fi across the state.
- Digital Literacy and Awareness:
- Achieve universal digital literacy with a focus on covered populations.
- Increase awareness of online privacy and cybersecurity.
- Improve adoption rates and increase the number of Illinoisans using internet devices.
- Ensure all residents possess digital skills for the digital economy.
- Increase the number of digital navigator programs.
- Engage more local governments and communities in digital equity topics.
- Affordable Access:
- Ensure all Illinoisans have access to affordable subscriptions, devices, and tech support.
- Increase the percentage of households using internet devices and enrolling in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
- Decrease broadband hesitancy and reduce the number of households without enough devices.
- Education Initiatives:
- Ensure every student, school, and district participates in a one-to-one initiative.
- Provide all students and teachers with access to reliable internet.
- Increase the percentage of school districts offering 1 Mbps per student.
- Offer tech training for parents and guardians.
- Support for Aging Population:
- Equip residents over 65 with digital skills and encourage participation in the Illinois Care Connections program.
- Reduce social isolation and loneliness among seniors.
- Rural Digital Agriculture:
- Ensure all farms in Illinois have access to high-speed internet.
- Increase the implementation of precision agriculture use cases.
- Workforce Development:
- Expand broadband-powered opportunities for inclusive workforce development across Illinois communities.
- Scale education and training programs for tech-related occupations and the broadband industry.
- Increase the number of Illinoisans able to work from home.
- Healthcare Access:
- Expand access to broadband-powered health services to provide additional healthcare options.
- Digital Manufacturing and Intelligent Transportation:
- Increase the adoption of digital manufacturing applications for small businesses.
- Develop use cases for intelligent transportation and smart logistics.
- Improve the safety of transportation infrastructure.
- Increase the adoption of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology.
Illinois BEAD Program Project Area Design
The state will determine the project area units and will submit them for feedback through an RFI process.
Illinois BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
After the second wave of funding, the Illinois Office of Broadband (IOB) will begin to determine the Extremely High Cost threshold. If the total BEAD outlay is less than the current available BEAD funding, they will not set an EHC threshold.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
IOB is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with: Financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership info, public funding info, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA/EHP/NEPA/NHPA compliance.
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 20% – Minimal BEAD Outlay: Non-State match
- 30% – Minimal BEAD Outlay: Financial need with respect to reference cost
- 15% – Affordability
- 15% – Labor Standards
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 3% – Speed to Deployment
- 4% – Speed of Network and other Technical Capabilities
- 3% – Open Access
- 5% – Local Coordination: Evidence of community support
- 5% – Local Coordination: Verified financial commitment from community
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
Illinois does not intend to use subgrants for non-deployment activities.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation
IOB will require funds for administrative activities to manage the grant, implement the challenge process, and oversee the subgrantee process. The IOB will ensure that administrative and programmatic costs are applied appropriately.
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
During this process, the Illinois Office of Broadband (IOB) and the Illinois Bandwidth Lab (IBL) reviewed the distribution of covered populations and broadband metrics.
- Northeast/Northern Stateline: High proportions of individuals with low English literacy, racial minorities, immigrants, and Indigenous populations.
- Southern Region: Low rates of broadband adoption, high proportions of unserved Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs), individuals with income less than 150% of the poverty line, those with disabilities, and veterans.
- Southeast Region: Low broadband adoption rates, high proportions of unserved BSLs, individuals with disabilities, and aging individuals.
Engagement Efforts
Listening Sessions:
- Hosted over 50 in-person sessions in local communities across all 10 regions of Illinois.
- Conducted virtual listening sessions.
Informational Materials:
- Distributed virtual fact sheets and FAQs through partner organizations.
- Provided brochures during the 10-region tour.
Surveys:
- Conducted online surveys targeting all stakeholder groups.
- Conducted phone surveys targeting residents.
- Launched surveys for Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to understand barriers and benefits to broadband access.
Publications:
- Launched a website and social media platforms for IBL to disseminate information about engagement efforts and provide updates.
- Published a bi-weekly “Illinois Broadband Connection” newsletter.
Virtual Sessions:
- Hosted three virtual sessions for state government agencies.
- Hosted two virtual sessions aimed at private-sector stakeholders.
Community Organization Engagement:
- Hosted at least one resident and community organization listening session in each of the 10 regions.
Awareness in Under-Represented Communities:
- Conducted analytics to identify underserved/unserved communities in each region.
- Promoted listening sessions through CAIs.
- Held listening sessions targeting residents who speak Spanish.
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
IOB requires all BEAD subgrantees to submit the following information:
A record of past compliance with federal/employment laws:
- Must address info on deployment projects within the last 3 years.
- Certification form from an Officer/Director level employee of past compliance.
- Written confirmation that subgrantee has disclosed any violations from contractors within the last 3 years.
- Discussion of workforce plan
Plans for ensuring compliance with federal/employment laws:
- How subgrantee will ensure compliance in its labor/employment practices.
- Info on applicable wage scales, wage, and overtime practices for each class of employee expected to be involved in physical construction of the network.
- How subgrantee will ensure implementation of workplace safety committees.
- Comply with the Prevailing Wages Act.
- Other items as outlined in the BEAD NOFO.
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
One of the strategies employed for the inclusion of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) was the creation of the Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI). The CEI was established to expand access to state contracts for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans. The CEI oversees the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), which utilizes multiple processes to ensure that MBEs and WBEs are recruited, used, and retained whenever possible. Participation in the BEP is required for subgrantees of Connect Illinois.
The BEP includes:
- Certification Process: Certifies MBEs and WBEs.
- Inclusion Process: Ensures MBEs and WBEs are included in state contracts.
- Compliance Monitoring and Data Tracking: Oversees prime contractors and subcontractors to ensure compliance.
The Illinois Office of Broadband (IOB) certifies it will take the following affirmative steps:
- Place qualified small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises on solicitation lists.
- Ensure that small and minority businesses, and women’s business enterprises are solicited whenever they are potential sources.
- Divide total requirements, when economically feasible, into smaller tasks or quantities to permit maximum participation by small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises.
- Establish delivery schedules, where the requirement permits, which encourage participation by small and minority businesses and women’s business enterprises.
- Use the services and assistance, as appropriate, of organizations such as the Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce.
- Require subgrantees to take the affirmative steps listed above as they relate to subcontractors.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
1. Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
2. Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
3. Streamlining permitting processes.
4. Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
5. Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
Illinois’s Proposed Low-Cost Broadband Service Option:
- Affordable Pricing:
- $30 per month or less, inclusive of all taxes, fees, and charges for subscribers not residing on Tribal Lands.
- $75 per month or less, inclusive of all taxes, fees, and charges for subscribers residing on Tribal Lands.
- Subsidy Application:
- Allows the end user to apply the Affordable Connectivity Benefit subsidy to the service price.
- Speed Requirements:
- Provides the greater of:
- Typical download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and typical upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps, or
- The fastest speeds the infrastructure is capable of if less than 100 Mbps/20 Mbps.
- Provides the greater of:
- Latency:
- Ensures typical latency measurements of no more than 100 milliseconds.
- No Restrictions:
- The service is not subject to data caps, surcharges, or usage-based throttling.
- Upgrade Flexibility:
- If the provider later offers a low-cost plan with higher speeds, Eligible Subscribers subscribed to a low-cost broadband service option can upgrade to the new offering at no additional cost.
- Program Participation:
- Subgrantees are required to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or any successor program.
- Eligible Subscribers who qualify for a broadband service subsidy can apply the subsidy to the proposed service option.
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability
According to the ACS 2021 survey, the median household income for the middle class in Illinois was $72,205 per year.
Scoring for Broadband Providers:
Providers will be scored based on the price they offer for two speed tiers:
- 1G/1G: Reference price at $100.
- 100/20 Mbps: Reference price at $30.
Best Practices for Continued Monitoring and Public Reporting:
- Project Reporting Requirement: The state requires ISPs to report their full prices and speed levels on a semi-annual basis.
- Data Collection: A platform will be established where ISPs can submit data on a semi-annual basis.
- Public Reporting: A user-friendly website will be created to publicly report verified data and present it clearly.
- Data Validation: Consumers will have the ability to directly challenge published prices and speeds.
- Data Update: A system will ensure data is collected on time and updated regularly.
- Transparency and Accessibility: The website will be publicized through social media, press releases, and community outreach programs.
