|
Gov. Pritzker Extends Stay at Home Order to April 30
Governor Pritzker this week extended the stay at home order for Illinois through April 30. The new Executive Order is an extension of the state’s disaster proclamation, requiring individuals to stay at home or their place of residence for an additional 30 days. Individuals may leave their homes only for essential activities or for essential operations. The order extends the suspension of on-site learning in K-12 schools, with schools transitioning from Act of God Days to Remote Learning Days. It also provides the authority for the governor to sign additional executive orders to extend the Stay at Home order.
This new order supersedes Executive Order 2020-10 which is continued and extended in its entirety for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, which currently extends through April 30, 2020. All essential businesses and operations are encouraged to stay open. To the greatest extent feasible, Essential Businesses and Operations shall comply with social distancing requirements. The Executive Order defines a number of different essential businesses and operations. Internet, video and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, businesses infrastructure, communications and web-based services) are included in the Order under essential infrastructure.
COVID-19 Resources on ITA Website
Together with the Illinois Rural Broadband Association and with input and assistance from our member companies, we are communicating with the Governor's Administration, the ICC, DCEO, IEMA and other state agencies to respond to questions and share information important to our industry and the customers we serve.
We have created a quick link on the ITA website to COVID-19 Resources that serves as a one stop shop for important information to help navigate our essential businesses and services through this health emergency. If you need information or have additional resources to share, please let me know and I will add what we can to the COVID-19 Resources webpage.
Also, as member companies evaluate government assistance programs that may be available both now and in the future, you are encouraged to track your incremental costs and any financially disruptive impacts on; revenue streams, cash flow, debt service or otherwise that can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reminder: Connect Illinois Grant Deadline is April 10
The Illinois Office of Broadband recently announced the extension of the deadline for Connect Illinois broadband grant applications to April 10:
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and strain it has placed upon our communities and broadband service providers alike, the Illinois Office of Broadband is extending the application deadline for our current funding round until 5pm on Friday, April 10, 2020. We recognize the hard work many applicants have invested in this grant process, the urgent need for better broadband access throughout the state, and the mounting challenges impacting nearly every aspect of our daily lives. For these reasons, we want to ensure that applications underway have an opportunity to be completed – and that we help those eager to extend critical connectivity throughout un/underserved areas of the state make as much progress toward this end as soon as possible.
|
