U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, along with three of his House colleagues from Illinois, applauded this week's Federal Communications Commission announcement to authorize more than $26 million to expand rural broadband.
The funding would go to help more than 6,700 homes and businesses in the state, according to a news release. Illinois Reps. John Shimkus, Darin LaHood and Rodney Davis also praised the news.
"The gap in broadband services across the state of Illinois is stark," Kinzinger said. "This additional funding announcement is great news for my constituents who live in rural areas, and will help ensure these communities will have the connectivity they need to improve education ... and remain competitive economically."
The authorized funding from the Connect America Fund Phase II will help underserved rural communities and help close a digital divide.
Earlier this year, Kinzinger, along with the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a letter to the FCC chairman and board urging them to improve the nation's broadband maps. The members of Congress asked the FCC commissioners to reform the mapping process for broadband services. They cited a report, which found that more than 21 million Americans still lack access to high-speed internet services.