15,000 Illinois Jobs as a Result of $766 Million in Broadband Investments Announced Over Past Year
CHICAGO, June 21, 2011 – More than $766 million in broadband and wireless investments have been announced since June 2010 with the potential to create more than 15,000 jobs, according to the Illinois Technology Partnership’s (ITP) quarterly broadband investment and jobs tracker.
Launched last year after the Illinois General Assembly passed and Governor Quinn signed legislation to update Illinois’ 25-year old telecommunications laws, the tracker has shown investments steadily on the rise throughout the state.
“It’s been amazing to track investments as far south as cities including Cairo and Metropolis and as far north as Crystal Lake and Antioch,” said Lindsay Mosher, executive director of ITP. “There’s no question updated telecommunications laws opened up the opportunity for federal and state investment in broadband and more importantly made room for significant private sector investment.”
Since June 2010, investments have been announced throughout Illinois. Following is an overview of each quarterly report over the past year:
- September 2010, more than $365 million in investments announced with the potential to create more than 8,000 jobs.
- December 2010, more than $520 million in investments announced with the potential to create more than 8,400 jobs.
- March 2011, more than $658 million in investments announced with the potential to create more than 9,800 jobs.
- June 2011, more than $766 million in investments announced with the potential to create more than 15,000 jobs.
“These investments are a clear indicator that smart technology policy does lead to broadband investment and job creation,” said Mosher. “As we to look to the future, we need to ensure Illinois continues to encourage investment in 21st century broadband technologies. There isn’t a business or resident in Illinois that would not benefit from better, faster broadband.”
The interactive tracker is available on ITP’s website at http://www.iltechpartner.org/itp-advocacy/jobs-and-investment. For more information, contact Lindsay Mosher at lindsay@iltechpartner.org or 312-768-4760.
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About the Illinois Technology Partnership
The Illinois Technology Partnership is the Illinois-based project of Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition, a non-profit organization of individual consumers interested in technology, broadband, and telecommunication issues with state projects throughout the Midwest region. ITP brings together industry experts, thought leaders, and Illinois consumers to foster an environment that will encourage emerging technologies, jobs and investment and spur economic growth on the state and local level.
CONTACT:
Lindsay Mosher
Lindsay@iltechpartner.org
312-768-4760
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