Illinois Gigabit Challenge applicants published

Google and Kansas City are living pretty large right now with their gigabit Internet offerings recently announced. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced the Illinois Gigabit Challenge in his State of the State announcement this year to provide $4 million to the best proposal to build out a gigabit fiber network by the end of 2013. The applicants of the Illinois Gigabit Challenge were announced. You can find the over 40 applicants on the Illinois Gigabit Challenge website or posted after the jump.

If your hometown is included in the list, you might be able to contact the organization or company coordinating the application to find out how you can get involved to help make your city’s proposal a success and bring about a broadband revolution even if you don’t win the big prize.

The best proposals will outline how completing ultra-high speed network construction by the end of 2013 will, among other objectives:

• Improve employment opportunities;
• Enhance economic development through the development of “smart communities” ;
• Bring Illinois closer to our goal of increasing the proportion of residents with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025;
• Connect health care professionals with their patients;
• Position Illinois’ universities to continue to lead the nation in research, technology and innovation.

Gigabit applicants on the map by BroadbandIllinois.org.