All 56 Federal Broadband Plans Approved. Construction Comes Next

On August 25, the Trump administration Commerce Department finally approved Illinois's spending plan under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Illinois was the last straggler of the 56 states and territories to receive clearance under the $42.5 billion internet funding program.

"With all 56 Final Proposals now approved, we are achieving Congress's vision of closing the digital divide once and for all," said Arielle Roth, head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administers the program...