Illinois Broadband Lab

The Illinois Broadband Lab is a collaborative effort among the Illinois Office of Broadband, the University of Illinois System, the Illinois Office of Innovation and Technology, the University of Illinois Extension, and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, to advance shared interests in broadband data and research, explore various aspects of the digital divide, and provide thoughtful analysis of the Connect Illinois capital investment & related programming.

The Lab will measure, monitor, and tell the story of broadband investments — whether in mapping, infrastructure, digital inclusion, or community planning and engagement. Combining the country’s largest state-driven broadband matching grant program with value-adding capacity focused on best practices, investment impact, and innovative cross-sector collaboration will ensure the sustained success of the Connect Illinois program – and establish Illinois as the state that does broadband best, in terms of investment & inquiry.