Champaign-Urbana’s big broadband project, or UC2B, now has until September to continue connecting residents to the fiber optic cable network. The National Telecommunications Information Administration sector of the U.S. Department of Commerce allowed extension of the deadline in order to accomplish the Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program within the necessary timeframe. 

Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, chair of UC2B’s policy committee, recognizes the issues some customers of UC2B have had, but still maintains the feedback, which is more positive than negative.

“The school district found that they were able to stream video and do things in the classroom that they couldn’t do before,” Bowersox-Johnson said. “We know there have been some cases where customers are frustrated, and that’s certainly something we have worked hard to improve.”

The federal grant provided for UC2B allows for 2,500 homes to be hooked up, and Bowersox-Johnson said they want to get as close to the 2,500 mark as they can. He said more homes would have been connected if it weren’t for the prolonged winter this past year, and he estimates close to 1,800 residences will be connected by the September deadline. He said UC2B budgeted on the high side.

“We asked for more federal dollars so that if more people than we expected wanted to be connected, we could do it,” Bowersox-Johnson said.

In addition to the residential connections, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s website, UC2B can directly connect 143 “anchor institutions,” including 40 K-12 schools, 17 social service agencies, 14 health care facilities, nine youth centers, four public libraries and two higher education institutions.

The website also notes that “the project expects to spur affordable broadband Internet access for local consumers, including up to 50,000 households and 3,700 businesses, by enabling local Internet service providers to connect to the project’s open network.”

Champaign resident and city council member Will Kyles lives in and represents a census tract affected by UC2B. He has taken advantage of the opportunity to access the broadband network. He has also seen the difference the network is making in the community already.

“In churches, I have seen two or three of them launch trainings for seniors and community members, so it gives people the opportunity to have access to technology and close the digital divide gap,” Kyles said.

As the grant period comes to a close, either a non-profit or other small business will have to take over the network. UC2B and the Champaign-Urbana communities are in the process of figuring out who will oversee the network after September. 

Janelle can be reached at [email protected].