Connect Macon County initiative launches

DECATUR — Not one week removed from the initial announcement of a fast-tracked 14-week program to expand broadband Internet service in Macon County, more details were made available during a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 14.

The press conference, held at the University of Illinois Extension office in Decatur and led by the Connect Macon County initiative, outlined many details relating to the initiative and its plans to expand broadband service in the county.

The Connect Macon County initiative is the latest step in the county toward expanding broadband access to underserved portions of the county.

The conference was led by Macon County Administrator Tamara Wilcox, who explained a few key points of the initiative before handing it off to Tim Stock of the Macon County Farm Bureau and two representatives of the Benton Institute, Reid Sharkey and Bill Coleman.

The state of Illinois is the recipient of a $1.04 billion allocation from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD is only one part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $42.45 billion initiative spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.

Connect Macon County officials stress that getting access to these funds would assist in providing rural portions of Macon County with broadband Internet access, as well as underserved portions of larger communities like Decatur. Broadband access is critical in those areas for everything from precision planning and farming operations, education, and telehealth.

A major contributing factor to the initiative was a recent audit from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). DCEO’s audit reported that only 13 percent of Macon County households have access to Internet service with speeds of at least one gigabit or better. The current benchmark for the BEAD program is a minimum speed of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speed. An underwhelming 3,880 households have service that is lower than the BEAD benchmark.

Stakeholders in this initiative include Macon County board members and officials, the Macon County Farm Bureau, the City of Decatur, township officials, the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation for Macon County, Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education, the University of Illinois Extension, Ameren Illinois, Jenner Ag Company, and Macon County farmers.

The project started accepting survey responses on February 1 and have received 172 completed responses. Wilcox stated that the goal is to reach 500 responses by the deadline of March 15. Macon County residents can complete a quick online survey at go.illinois.edu/MaconCoConnectivity.

Those without internet service can request a paper copy of the survey by calling the University of Extension office in Decatur at (217) 877-6042. Paper survey copies are also available at the Macon County Board office, Macon County Farm Bureau, and any public library within Macon County.

Wilcox noted that the initiative is already in effect in the southwestern portion of Macon County (presumably Macon, Blue Mound, and Boody), as Shelby Electric Cooperative and its ShelbyFiber subsidiary will be building out service in the area.

An inquiry to Shelby Electric Cooperative on the matter led to a specific page regarding the project.

“Shelby Electric Cooperative is excited to announce that you will soon have high-speed Fiber-To-The-Home internet access available in your area,” the company states.

The page specifically refers to property owners where they will be installing fiber service and will be requesting updated or new easement approvals allowing ShelbyFiber to install, operate, and maintain the service in the area.

If you are in the affected area where ShelbyFiber is installing service, additional information, including frequently asked questions, is available at shelbyelectric.coop/macon-county-project, by emailing [email protected], or by calling Shelby Electric Cooperative at (217) 774-3986 or toll-free (800) 677-2612.

Listen to “PRESS CONFERENCE: Connect Macon County Broadband Press Conference” on Spreaker.

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