Connect Flanagan

10/30/2023

It has been a while since our last post, but there is news on the fiber internet that is so exciting we can't wait to share it.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 1st, Metro Communications Company, Inc. will begin work on Flanagan's brand-new fiber infrastructure, so expect to see road crews marking utilities throughout the coming weeks. Metro will use mostly FRONT EASEMENTS for this project. Metro's team is expected to complete the project's first phase before the New Year. This is Metro's current pricing and offering models (Pricing and offerings may be subject to change).

There may be several questions that arise or even concerns, and I will do my best to respond to each.

Martin Kudla
Village of Flanagan

07/26/2022

We just received an update on our grant submission for the Rd. 3 Connect Illinois program. According to the head of the program, the state is "pausing" the program as they work toward establishing the administrative rules. Due to this recent news, we are in a waiting period until the State makes a final decision (which is believed to be towards the end of the year). I really don't know what will happen until that time but I will keep posting updates as they come in.

Martin Kudla
Project Manager
Connect Flanagan

03/18/2022

UPDATE:
Conxxus (Metro Communications) in conjunction with the village has submitted another grant application for Rd. 3 of the “Connect Illinois” program. This grant request is slightly larger than the previous and covers all the costs the first grant couldn’t. We are in high spirits going in and now are waiting to hear from the state. Hopefully, soon we have more information to share with all the residents of Flanagan but before then we would like to say a quick thank you to Conxxus (Metro Communications) for partnering with us in achieving our goal of “bringing better internet home”.

01/27/2022

Well, we did it! Metro Communications was awarded $292,118 to put in brand new fiber lines throughout Flanagan. Metro Communications, founded in 2000 have partnered with the Village in this endeavor and together we hope to accomplish the goal of bringing high-speed broadband to Flanagan. We will be working with Metro closely so if there are any questions you would like answered please leave them in the comments or call our office.

Martin Kudla
Project Manager

A few highlights from the article.

"Connect Illinois grants continue to help expand broadband infrastructure across the state, bringing resources to communities that need it most," said Acting DCEO Director, Sylvia I. Garcia. "We are investing in meaningful capital projects to provide high-speed, reliable internet to households and businesses that have lacked access – boosting education, jobs, and economic opportunity for communities across Illinois in the process."

Grant applications were reviewed and evaluated on a competitive basis, with proposals evaluated in seven categories: project impact; nonstate match and demonstration of need; community support; project readiness; project viability and sustainability; affordability and adoption assistance; and open access, shared use and business strategy.

"I couldn't be more thrilled for the 400 households in the Village of Flanagan who will be connected to essential, high-quality broadband" said Rep. Tom Bennett. "This Rebuild Illinois investment is making an incredible impact on the everyday lives of families in my district."

"Through our participation in the Illinois Connected Communities program, we were given the tools and framework we needed to create a vision for our community's broadband needs, and we're happy our plan is coming to fruition," said Village of Flanagan President Jeff Wallace. "We look forward to working together with the State of Illinois and Metro Communications to bring high-speed broadband access to all our residents."

The full news article can be found here:

SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband today announced $47 million in funding for 22 projects in every region of the state through the second round of Connect Illinois, the state's broadband expansion plan. To...

01/25/2022

Big news coming from the Office of Broadband tomorrow. Round 2 "Connect Illinois" winners will be announced. 🤞🤞

04/20/2021

Huge Shoutout to Evan Hutson and the team Metro Communications Company, Inc. for working with us. Metro has applied for the Connect Illinois Grant Program. Now, all we can do is cross our fingers and make preparations for when it is accepted. Thank you once again to all those involved, and thank you to everyone who took a survey or turned in a letter of support. With your help, I believe we will get this grant, and we will make Flanagan a better place to live.

Martin Kudla
Project manager
Connect Flanagan

03/03/2021

Hello, residents of Flanagan!

Again we are asking for your help. The Connect Flanagan Team has sent out blank Letters of Support to each resident. Please consider supporting this project by filling out the letter and returning it to the village office before April 1st. Gathering as many letters of support will be the last step in the application process before we submit our funding request for fiber internet.

Thank you again.

02/19/2021

No, that is not a droid on top of our car....it's a street view camera to help us get a better look at towns we are going to build fiber optic network in. This will help us streamline the engineering process when it comes to designing fiber optic network plans for new areas. We can't wait to get this out on the road!

02/03/2021

The surveys are in, and you have spoken. New, "Better Internet" is coming!
We have partnered with Metro Communication (former Heartland Cable) to bring you the fastest fiber gigabit internet. Presently we are 80% of the way there, so what is the next step?

The next step: Applying for the Connect Illinois grant. This grant awards up to 5 million in funding, much more than we need to complete this project.

What do we need now to prepare for this grant?
We will need as many "Letters of Support" as we can get from businesses and residents alike. Below I have attached a couple of examples. Please feel free to personalize these letters.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Alz0XziciG_Iw2x_216d5FNKx_Ok?e=MVkLMu

Letters can be dropped off at the village hall, 100 W South St, or emailed to [email protected]. The deadline for letter submission is Feb.15. Please spread the word; we are so close.

Thank you,

Connect Flanagan Team

01/01/2021

Update: we have received around 180 surveys or roughly 40% so far. We are looking for as many finished surveys as we can get so if you have not taken it or know someone who has not taken it please direct them here. The survey will remain open until Jan.11. Thank you all! Happy new year!

We Need Your Help! The Connect Flanagan Team is gathering data to provide a better understanding of the community’s internet needs. Our hope is that we can bring fiber-optic cabling to Flanagan allowing for faster symmetric internet speeds as well as reliable internet access!

11/10/2020

Update on Internet Satisfaction Surveys:

We have received over 100 surveys between paper and digital. The deadline for taking the survey is Dec. 20, with the goal being 300 surveys. Please don't hesitate to turn these in as the information gathered will persuade potential providers to invest in this community.

Please encourage those who haven't taken the survey to do so. We only need one survey per household.

https://survey.app.do/connectflanagan

Thank you,
Connect Flanagan Team

We Need Your Help! The Connect Flanagan Team is gathering data to provide a better understanding of the community’s internet needs. Our hope is that we can bring fiber-optic cabling to Flanagan allowing for faster symmetric internet speeds as well as reliable internet access!

11/01/2020

Our first survey! Please let us know your opinion on the current internet crisis.

Comments? Leave them below.

We Need Your Help! The Connect Flanagan Team is gathering data to provide a better understanding of the community’s internet needs. Our hope is that we can bring fiber-optic cabling to Flanagan allowing for faster symmetric internet speeds as well as reliable internet access!