Illinois Governor Quinn and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have granted OnLight Aurora and Aurora Illinois a $1 Million grant to further develop the City of Aurora fiber optic network. One of the most robust networks in the state, this fiber optic network currently spans 50 miles of the city and will add an additional 15 miles through the grant process. OnLight Aurora will use these funds to connect the community anchor institutions of Aurora to the fiber to provide access to high speed broadband and the ability to collaborate with other organizations on the network.
These community anchor institutions include area schools, both K-12 and higher education as well as public and private, medical centers, social service agencies, arts & entertainment and businesses. In today’s economy, these connections are the fourth utility, an essential component to properly function and grow. Connection to this growing fiber network offers data center capability, and collaboration opportunities along with a highly scalable, highly competitive information technology tool. Users will then have highly available access to both voice and data network service.
OnLight Aurora is an Illinois not-for-profit with offices in Aurora Illinois serving the community by providing low cost, highly available and scalable access to the City of Aurora’s fiber optic network. Its services are designed to support and foster economic development growth and promote organizational collaboration through this network.