Dr. Maryalice Wu and Ms. Shavion Scott attended the 2012 Illinois Broadband Research Conference at the University of Illinois at Chicago to present on behalf of the Center for Digital Inclusion and its work on the Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband project (UC2B). The conference was hosted by Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI), also known as Broadband Illinois, a statewide, nonprofit organization. As UC2B launches as the fastest, one of its kind broadband project in the nation designed to create digitally inclusive communities in Urbana and Champaign, Broadband Illinois seeks to foster and support broadband innovation statewide. Their mission is to ensure broadband access throughout the State of Illinois, maximize broadband’s impact and use, and collect and publish broadband-related data, information, and research. You can learn more about them at www.broadbandillinois.org.

While at the conference, our team members were in the company of key leaders in broadband innovation, research, and applied practice. Among them were Dr. John Horrigan, Research Director with PCI and Vice President and Director at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; Dr. Karen Mossberger, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and Mr. Derek Murphy, Vice President of Project Delivery at Strategic Networks Group, located in Canada. On behalf of CDI, the two presented on the UC2B project, its background and unique characteristics, including it being the only middle-mile and last mile—fiber to the premise—broadband initiative in the United States funded through BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities Program). Dr. Maryalice Wu detailed the survey design, distribution and analysis process, while Ms. Shavion Scott focused on the engagement strategies utilized through diverse marketing and outreach efforts. Their presentation concluded with a status update on where the project is at present, as well as its future plans. The 2012 Illinois Broadband Research Conference was an opportunity for some to hear about UC2B for the first time and others to get a more in depth look at its process and progress. The slides from all of the conference presenters and photos of the event will be available on the Broadband Illinois website soon. Be sure to check them out!