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Lee County highest in Illinois for BEAD-eligible locations; county seeks multiple ISPs to apply for funding
Summary
County board member provided an update on federal broadband BEAD funding: Lee County has the largest number of eligible serviceable locations in the state (about 83,100); county staff are working with multiple internet providers and aiming to prioritize the hardest-to-serve locations in the first phase.
Jeremy (surname not specified), representing county board interests on broadband, gave a status report on the federal broadband program known as BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) and how it may affect Lee County.
“Lee County… currently has the highest eligible broadband serviceable locations in the state of Illinois… that is roughly about 83,100 locations throughout the county,” Jeremy said, adding that the county’s position both makes it a priority for funding and highlights the scale of unmet need. He said the next-highest county (Ogle) has roughly 63,100 eligible locations.
Jeremy said the county is working with multiple internet service providers — including Frontier, Surf and Comcast — to prepare phase-one applications. He explained the BEAD process will first target the “hardest to serve” locations (the county expects an initial selection period in late January to late February), with later waves expected in spring 2025 to reach remaining locations.
County members praised the outreach and Jeremy’s coordination with providers and partners. Jeremy also described parallel local grant efforts: the county is preparing a roughly $1.4 million planning grant application with Sauk Valley Community College for a multiuse path linking Dixon to the college; the application deadline was stated as January 30.
No formal action was taken at the committee meeting on the broadband items; Jeremy said the county will continue to work with service providers and submit the BEAD applications in coming weeks.
