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Illinois Connected Communities �Illinois Office of Broadband Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Logan County was selected to participate in the Broadband Breakthrough Program – a collaborative effort by the Illinois Office of Broadband, Illinois-based Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Illinois Soybean Association, and University of Illinois Extension.
The program was designed to support local governments as they prepare to leverage new dollars that will be made available by the state as well as through the historic passage of the federal infrastructure program.
The collaboration opportunity is made possible through the financial support of Illinois Soybean Association and the Illinois Innovation Network.

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Formed during the fall of 2023.
Committee members meet on a weekly basis with Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, with support of University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Innovation Network.
Since January, team members have been meeting on a weekly basis with Greater Peoria EDC to plan and implement a countywide household survey and interview local and regional internet service providers.
Our planning and exploration continues, sharing our findings to date and seeking additional community input.

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Team Members

Bret Aukamp |County Highway
Jim Drew|Logan County Farm Bureau
Emily Davenport |County Board Chair
Blair Hoerbert | Chair Regional Planning Commission
Ron Kindred |Illinois Soybean Association
Keenan Leesman | County Board

Tracy Welch |Lincoln Mayor
Matt Bobell |Mt. Pulaski Mayor
Adam McVey |Atlanta Mayor
Kevin Bateman | City
Becky Werth
Jeff Hoinacki
T.J. Bishop
Tom Anderson

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Access to broadband improves agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Urgent Need

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Today’s Farming Operation

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Precision Agriculture in the Digital Era

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�Establish a broadband network providing access to affordable and reliable high-speed connectivity to the masses, enhancing economic development, education, healthcare, government, business, public safety, and more.

Mission Statement

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�Accessibility to a Countywide network promotes healthy competition in an effort to provide affordable network connectivity for all.�

Vision Statement

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Which Internet Plan Do I Need For My Home?��

25 Mbps	50 Mbps	200 Mbps	400 Mbps	1000 Mbp
Basic internet access based on FCC’s minimum broadband standard. Multiple devices connecting simultaneously can lead to slower speeds and interruptions for users	Improved internet access with fewer interruptions and better quality	Best for a household of 4	Best for heavy streaming and gaming	Best for households with multiple smart home devices and users connecting to the internet simultaneously
Casual web browsing, emails, social media, streaming SD video and music, light gaming, video conference calls, online learning	+ Streaming HD video, multiple online learning sessions	+ Streaming 4K video, online multiplayer gaming, multiple video conference calls, using home security devices	+ Using home security and smart home devices	+ Multiple video conference calls simultaneously, high quality seamless internet connection for all connected devices

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Access to Wireline + Licensed Fixed Wireless Broadband

100 x 20 Mbps

These speeds are not available in Chestnut, Lake Fork, and Latham areas.

As shown by blue hexbin, only fixed wireless 100x20 Mbps speeds available in areas surrounding Lincoln.

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Percent of households without internet subscription

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Access by Technology- Mobile 5G & LTE Broadband

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Unserved and Underserved Areas based on FCC Broadband Maps Data��Data as of June 2023

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Unserved and Underserved locations based on FCC Maps,

Data as of June 2023

Broadband Serviceable Locations Fabric

All locations in the United States and Territories where fixed broadband internet access service has been or could be installed- these make up the points that appear on the FCC map. Each point represents a Broadband Serviceable Location (BSL).

On the FCC Map, at https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home, gray location points represent buildings or structures that are likely to subscribe to enterprise or commercial-grade service rather than mass-market broadband services

•

For Logan County

Total Broadband Service Locations in Fabric_v3.2

Unserved: 282

Underserved: 86

*Based on Wireline and Licensed Fixed Wireless Access

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FCC Registered Antenna Structures

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Key Survey Findings

57% of Farm/Ag Business respondents indicated satisfaction with how their fixed internet connectivity supports business functions (Accounting, marketing, purchasing, payroll).
48%Farm/Ag Business respondents indicated satisfaction with how their fixed internet connectivity supports precision agriculture.
51% of Farm/Ag Business respondents indicated satisfaction with how their fixed internet connectivity supports family life (streaming, school, work from home, tele-health).

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Key Survey Findings

77% reported having a fixed internet connection
28% reported having only a cellular internet connection.
4% of survey respondents reported having no cellular and no fixed internet connection.
85% of respondents reported needing to resort to the cellular data for internet.

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Key Survey Findings

63% of respondents were not satisfied with the affordability of their internet service.
51% of respondents were not satisfied with the speed of their internet service
51% of respondents were not satisfied with the reliable of their internet service
23% of respondents reported having no access to fixed internet.
Of those who had access to fixed internet and took the speed test, 37% reported a speed of less than 25 mbps upload or 3 mbps download, meeting the FCC standard for "unserved."

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Broadband Stories

Our only options are cellular and satellite. Currently we subscribe to T-Mobile cellular with no other solid options. When we ask other companies, we fall in an area ‘just outside’ of their service. The cellular is extremely unreliable for telework and schooling. When we moved here in 2014, Frontier DSL was only 768Kbps, then we got fixed wireless internet with 5Mbps. We’re currently using T-Mobile Home ISP and get 100Mbps. Our neighborhood of approximately 50 homes would greatly benefit from fiber-to-the-home. We actually have had three years of living rurally after having “in-town” internet at over 100mps speeds, and we currently pay for three different internet services to be able to provide everything we need. It’s expensive and annoying, to be honest, that we do not have ONE choice and ONE price that is affordable, fast, and does what we need.

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Provider Interview Summaries

i3 Broadband (Fiber):

Strong Illinois presence and since 2003 have grown to a 100% Fiber-Optic network throughout the Greater-Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Springfield, Galesburg, Lincoln and Jacksonville.
Interested in expanding their network in adjacency markets to already served communities.

Metro Communications (Fiber):

Metro Communications is an established regional Internet services provider that builds and operates fiber optic network serving the Wireless, Enterprise, Education and Wholesale markets. Founded in 2000, the firm manages fiber-optic network in multiple Central Illinois counties and continues to expand into new markets annually.
Strong local connections, and willingness to partner with communities.

�

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Provider Interview Summaries

Stratus

Stratus Networks has spent the last twenty years bringing world-class technology, services, and customer service to organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. They work with companies of all sizes in all industries, and have become well-known amongst small businesses, enterprise, wholesale, government, and education.
They recently have acquired iFiber in Northern Illinois, and expressed interest in working with Logan County

WANRack

WANRack is headquartered in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Currently engaged in work for Logan and Macon Counties.
WANRack’s model is designed for Open Access Networks (OANs). Under our open access model, WANRack seeks to build a twenty-first-century fiber network in which multiple services can be offered over the network.

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Provider Interview Summaries

CIRBN was made possible through the ARRA BTOP initiative, but the idea to create greater access in Central Illinois was already on the minds of area leaders.

Since 2004, the Economic Development Council (EDC) of the Bloomington-Normal area held talks and conducted the studies about constructing a broadband network in Central Illinois. Though there was interest and studies pointed out many benefits, without strong financial support the network could not yet become a reality.

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What are we going to do?

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Connect Illinois Grant Applications

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Connect Illinois Grant Applications

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Priority Strategy Overview

Develop agreements and marketing materials for outreach to ISPs.
Identify priority zones and starting point for middle mile deployment.
Convene ISP Partners in planning for middle mile infrastructure builds to ensure proper access to fiber along the route.
Host community meetings – to coincide with build timelines.
Develop planned builds for each community/area of the county based

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Broadband Breakthrough has been icing on the cake for Logan County’s middle mile infrastructure plan, this work has helped us a great deal in making connections needed to build out our broadband network.

Conclusion/Commitment to Action Keenan Lessman, Logan County Board