Thursday, February 25, 2010
Statewide broadband gets a boost
By Steven Rickeri/The Southern
CARBONDALE - A new website launched Wednesday by Connect Illinois offers users new tools that they hope will narrow the digital divide.
Connect Illinois, a public and private partnership led by the Office of the Governor and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is partnered with Connect SI, Connected Nation and Man-Tra-Con Corporation. The goal of Connect Illinois is to bring broadband access to un-served and underserved regions throughout Illinois.
BroadbandStat was launched via a webinar and utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) technology that will allow users to access data related to current broadband availability, population and education demographics and scenarios for broadband expansion.
BroadbandStat offers a picture of broadband data and makes the information accessible to the public. Connect Illinois hopes that BroadbandStat will help consumers, technology providers and policy makers formulate a plan to expand and adopt broadband.
Rex Duncan of Connect SI said the new website will help analyze the broadband situation in Southern Illinois in terms of understanding broadband connectivity.
"We have not seen data like this before," Duncan said. "This will provide data on what kind of access is available and what providers are available." Duncan said the map will help users visualize un-served areas that could lead to individuals or businesses considering capital investment opportunities.
Currently, the Connect Illinois mapping project covers 93 percent of all Illinois households or 4.28 million households. Duncan said this is the most in-depth mapping program to date, but said there will be more mapping yet to come.
stephen.rickerl@thesouthern.com
618-351-5823
