Rock Island Today

Announcement Follows Sorensen’s Efforts to Connect Rural Communities in Central and Northwestern Illinois

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is joining the Department of Commerce to announce over $1 billion to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities across Illinois. 

“I welcome this much-needed investment to expand high-speed internet access across our rural communities,” said Sorensen. “I'll continue to make sure families in Central and Northwestern Illinois, regardless of ZIP code, have access to the health care, education, and economic opportunities provided by an internet connection in 21st century America.” 

“Thanks to President Biden's Investing in America agenda, we are making a $1 billion investment to create good-paying jobs, build out network infrastructure and ensure everyone in Illinois can get online,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “I commend Representative Sorensen for his support of this initiative, which will ensure that hardworking families in Illinois are able to plug in to the modern economy, whether for education, healthcare, or work.” 

The $1,040,420,751 investment comes as part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which administers funding for broadband infrastructure to eligible states and territories. 

The announcement comes as Sorensen hosted a panel on June 28,2023 with farmers, ranchers, producers, and other agriculture industry professionals from Central and Northwestern Illinois to learn about their broadband needs. During the roundtable, Sorensen and industry leaders discussed how high-speed internet can better reach those in unserved areas and how quality broadband can support smart-agriculture technologies. Sorensen also mentioned the $1 billion investment to the group. 

Last week, Sorensen introduced two bipartisan bills to increase high-speed internet access in rural communities. The ReConnecting Rural America Act will greatly strengthen an existing broadband program – the Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect program – by making the program permanent, ensuring it prioritizes places most in need, and establishing new requirements to make connections faster and more reliable. The ACCESS Rural America Act will streamline reporting requirements to help small and locally-owned broadband providers expand service and better connect communities in need. 

Sorensen had the opportunity to question expert witnesses on broadband internet expansion during a House Agriculture Committee hearing last week. You can view Sorensen’s remarks here. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to represent Illinois at the federal level and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

Original source can be found here.