As part of the Broadband READY program, the Illinois Broadband Lab will be hitting the road this January and hosting in-person READY meetings with broader regional stakeholders. Coinciding with the public comment period for the Draft State Digital Equity Plan, each Broadband READY team (representing all 10 Illinois economic regions) will host a Regional Digital Equity Engagement meeting.

Interested in attending? RSVP at: go.uillinois.edu/READY2024

Condensed READY Regional Engagement slides (PDF)
Condensed BEAD Mapping Challenge Process (PDF)

Below is a schedule of these in-person READY regional digital equity engagement events:

Week of January 15

Mon. Jan 15 – MLK Day Event (Chicago)

North Central (Normal—ISU) — CANCELED
Tues. Jan 16 | 11am-1pm [POSTPONED]
[North Central Slides (PDF)]

West Central (Macomb—WIU) — CANCELED
Wed. Jan 17 | 11am-1pm
[West Central Slides (PDF)]

Southwest (SIU-Edwardsville) — CANCELED
Thurs. Jan 18 | 11am-1pm
[Southwest Slides (PDF)] 

Friday 19
[Jan 19 statewide READY call slides (PDF)]
[Recording of Jan 19 Call]

Week of January 22 & Beyond

Central (Springfield—UIS) — CANCELED
Mon Jan 22 | 11am-1pm

Northern Stateline (Rockford, Region 1)
Fri. Jan 26 | 10am–12pm
Region 1 Planning Council
127 N Wyman St Suite 100, Rockford, IL 61101
[Northern Stateline Flyer (PDF)]
[Nothern Stateline Presentation (PDF)]

East Central (Champaign–UIUC)
Tues. Jan 30 | 11am-1pm
Martens Center
1515 N Market St, Champaign, IL 61820
[East Central Flyer (PDF)]
[East Central Presentation (PDF)]

Southeast (Charleston—EIU)
Was: Tues Jan 23 | 11am-1pm
Now: Wed Jan 31 | 11am-1pm
Eastern Illinois Foundation Office
Neal Welcome Center
860 W Lincoln Ave
Charleston, IL 61920
[Southeast Flyer (PDF)]
[Southeast Presentation (PDF)]

Southern (SIU-Carbondale)
Was: Wed Jan 24 | 11am-1pm
Now: Thurs Feb 1 | 11am-1pm
Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center
1740 Innovation Dr
Carbondale, IL 62903
[Southern Flyer (PDF)]
[Southern Presentation (PDF)]

Interested in attending any meeting? RSVP at: go.uillinois.edu/READY2024

 

More locations may continue to be announced.

Curious about getting involved? Email: illinoisbroadbandlab@uillinois.edu.

 

Agenda

  • Introductions – 10 min
  • Update on State Digital Equity Plan, BEAD – 10 min
  • Review Regional Findings – 40 min
    • Comments & Discussion on Regional SDEP findings
    • Previous & Ongoing Regional Engagement initiatives
      • Connect Illinois, IBL Programming, Broadband Breakthrough
  • BEAD review (if relevant to region) – 15 min
    • Mapping Review & Challenge Process
  • READY Update – 20 min
    • Digital Equity Project
    • Digital Navigators
      • Digital literacy curriculum
      • ACP sign-up events or other affordability initiatives
    • Spring Convention in Chicago 2024
  • Open Discussion – 20 min
  • Conclusion & Next Steps – 5 min