Gov Pritzker Secures Over $1 Billion for High-Speed Internet in Illinois

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, along with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, announced over a billion dollars in federal funding to expand high-speed internet across the state.

Federal Broadband Funding Finally Approved

After months of waiting, Illinois is now set to receive $1.04 billion in federal broadband funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is expected to provide high-speed internet for approximately 350,000 Illinois residents by 2031.

The BEAD money will build on previous public and private investments in broadband infrastructure around the state, which brings the combined total to around $2 billion for high-speed internet expansion.

Communities all across Illinois will finally be able to access the high-quality internet they need to thrive in the digital age. From telehealth to online education to career opportunities, this announcement will open doors of opportunity for families, schools, farmers, students, and small businesses all over the state. -Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker

Illinois originally submitted its BEAD application in September 2025, and the state says federal policy called for applications to be reviewed within 90 days, but Illinois waited nearly a year for approval.