Illinois broadband initiative gets $13 million infusion

Through a combination of state and federal grants, northern Illinois will receive $13 million in capital funds meant to improve broadband access, Governor Pat Quinn said last week. A project meant to develop high-speed, low-cost broadband infrastructure in the DeKalb region is poised to receive the bulk of the funds, where approximately 3,600 businesses and an estimated 34,000 households will have access to the network.

The $13 million funding includes $1.3 million in Illinois Jobs Now! funds for the DeKalb Advancement of Technology Authority (DATA), which will leverage another $11.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, officials said...