Pritzker urges feds to release $1B in broadband funds to Illinois

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has written to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the release of $1 billion in federal broadband infrastructure funds that had been allocated to Illinois.
The funds, part of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, are meant to connect approximately 383,000 people in rural areas of Illinois to high-speed internet.
Illinois and California are notably behind other states in the approval process, leading to speculation that the funds may be withheld as political leverage or punishment, specifically due to AI regulations in Illinois.
Lutnick had announced a review of the BEAD program last year, citing issues such as the failure to connect people to the internet and the impact of “woke mandates.”
An executive order from President Donald Trump directed Lutnick to explore withholding funds from states with AI laws that conflicted with national policy, potentially complicating the process for Illinois.
Despite Illinois meeting all requirements for the program, the approval process remains stalled, prompting Pritzker to highlight the urgency and necessity of these funds for rural communities.
Pritzker emphasized the negative impacts of the delay on various sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and employment for the Illinois population.
The state of Illinois is evaluating all available legal options to ensure it receives the necessary federal funding.