On Friday, May 16, Devon Braunstein, Director, Illinois Office of Broadband announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce terminated funding for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant. This funding, originally part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, provides funding for states to implement their State Digital Equity Plans.
In Illinois, this funding was intended to help support initiatives such as the Illinois Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and others.
Director Braunstein has announced that Illinois is still evaluating what the termination of funding means for current and future programs. The Illinois Office of Broadband is committed to achieving digital equity in Illinois.
On Monday, May 19, the Illinois Office of Governor J.B. Pritzker also released a statement concerning the cancellation of the program. The American Library Association also put out an FAQ about the cancellation.
RAILS has worked closely with the Illinois Office of Broadband to make sure that libraries are included in statewide plans. RAILS Director of Technology Services Anne Slaughter is currently serving as the chair of the Illinois Broadband Advisory Council.
RAILS will continue to share future updates on this situation. Libraries that are interested in this work should continue to check back at the RAILS Broadband and Digital Equity Pulse page. They can also join the RAILS Digital Equity Networking Group to learn more.
For more information, please contact RAILS Director of Technology Services Anne Slaughter, 630.734.5127.