MCLEAN COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD) — A lack of affordable, high-speed internet is a problem for residents living in rural McLean County.
Chad Walden is the mayor of Arrowsmith, a small community in eastern McLean County. He said Arrowsmith, which has a population of about 300 people, would benefit from high-speed internet.
“We've been struggling forever with a lack of high-speed internet around here,” Walden said. “And it's frustrating for a lot of citizens here in town.”
That's why the McLean County website has a form where people can share their experiences with their current internet speeds and rates.
“We're at a point now where we need to correct some misinformation,” said Anthony Grant, deputy county administrator.
He is asking people in rural McLean County, especially in the eastern part of the county, to fill out a form regarding internet service. This information helps counties present data to help rural areas access high-speed internet through grants.
“Three major wireless companies now say they are providing universal access to high-speed internet to meet the needs of eastern McLean County,” Grant said. “We need the public to help us and send us information that they can't access the internet at the speeds they need.”
The challenges of not having high-speed internet came to the forefront during the pandemic when both children and adults were forced to work from home. Arrowsmith's community center was opened to help children complete their school work.
“Arrowsmith is served by a DSL provider, and it's one of those situations where the more people you have, the slower the speeds are,” Walden said.
Grant and Walden agree that high-speed internet is a utility that provides access within the county.
“I want to know if I'm a homeowner or will be a homeowner, 'Can my kids do their homework, can I stream, can I work from home?'” Walden said. Ta. “All of this relies on the internet. Without it, you can't be competitive as a community or get people interested in moving into your community.”
Grant said he wants to help as many people as possible in rural areas.
You don't have to live in McLean County to fill out the form. The county plans to compile information for the team on Monday.