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Lake County outlines broadband and digital equity plan; Waukegan pilot and BEAD approvals highlighted
Summary
Lake County staff reviewed broadband and digital equity strategies including BEAD monitoring, a Dig Once policy draft, a Waukegan downtown public Wi‑Fi pilot IGA approved Jan. 20, 2026, and plans for laptop distributions and digital navigator programming funded through ARPA with sustainability discussions ongoing.
County staff gave the Technology Committee a broad update on broadband and digital equity strategies on Jan. 30, covering federal BEAD timing, local policy work, pilot public Wi‑Fi, device distribution goals and digital literacy efforts.
Betsy Brandon (assistant to the county administrator) and Kim Lundt (digital equity coordinator) outlined seven strategy areas from the county’s broadband and digital equity action plan. They said Lake County will support the BEAD/Connect Illinois process, but that Illinois’s provisional awards remain pending final approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Kaye…
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