Illinois communities celebrate Gig Town achievement

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Charleston, Mattoon and Oakland recognized as Gig Towns at Chamber Community Breakfast

Attendees at this breakfast organized by the Chamber of Commerce offices in Charleston and Mattoon also heard from Consolidated Communications that 100% of locations within the city limits of those two communities and Oakland now have access to 2G fiberoptic highspeed internet service. The Mattoon-based communication company has designated all three as Gig Towns.

"Today, we're celebrating a new fiber milestone in Coles County," said Consolidated Communications Product Management Senior Director Brett Bennett of the economic development potential.

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Regarding Consolidated, Bennett said the company has spent a lot of time and a lot of resources building a Fidium Fiber brand network throughout its multi-state service area. He said that includes more than 27,000 homes and businesses in Illinois being converted to fiber. He said this network provides 2-Gig speed now but has capabilities to go much further.

"We really see this as a 'future proof network,'" Bennett said. "Not only are we serving the communities of Charleston, Mattoon and Oakland today, we really feel we are going to be able to serve these communities long into the future."

Bennett said the newly designated Gig Towns of Charleston, Mattoon and Oakland now have highspeed service with the potential to help efforts to increase employment opportunities, median incomes, entrepreneurial activity, business growth and home values.

"We actually have access to some of the fastest speeds in the nation, with everybody in the city limits having access to 2 Gig," Bennett said. "We really feel like this is a game changer."

Read the full article from the Journal Gazette & Times-Courier here: https://jg-tc.com/news/local/business/sarah-bush-lincoln-leader-gives-medical-staffing-facility-updates/article_b88015f8-7d96-11ee-9a68-4fd920fa369d.html