Lake County approves ARPA‑funded pilot to install public Wi‑Fi in downtown Waukegan

Lake County's Financial Services Committee voted to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Waukegan to deploy a public Wi‑Fi network in the downtown corridor as part of the county's Broadband and Digital Equity Action Plan.

Kate Crandall, digital equity manager, said the pilot focuses on availability and access within Waukegan's downtown and aligns with the city's Rebuild Waukegan downtown revitalization efforts. Crandall showed a project map outlining a coverage area roughly between Grand and Belvidere and said blue dots on the map indicate planned access points. "This network is under our Broadband and Digital Equity Action Plan, which is ARPA funded," she said, noting funds have already been obligated for planning, installation and the first year of service through Dec. 31, 2026.

Crandall and Betsy Brandon, assistant to the county administrator, said the agreement funds installation and the first year of service; after the ARPA‑funded year ends the network will be owned and maintained by the City of Waukegan. The county plans marketing and community outreach, training of navigators to explain how to join and safely use the network, and coordination with Waukegan's communications team for public materials.

Committee members praised the project and asked how users will access the network and whether signage and naming will make it easy for residents and visitors to connect. Crandall said staff will create marketing materials and train navigators to assist community members and attendees at outreach events. Vice Chair Park and other members discussed using the pilot as a replicable model in other municipalities; staff said they are already in discussions with another municipality on the North Shore.

The committee approved the IGA by voice vote. Staff said they will collect usage data during the pilot and return with findings that will inform potential replication across other municipalities.