Adequate broadband internet service across Illinois is a need for farmers, and Illinois’ new Department of Agriculture director is working to make that happen.

“There are too many places in the state of Illinois where they may have internet service but it’s not adequate,” said ag director John M. Sullivan on Wednesday afternoon at Illinois Valley Community College.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity hosted Sullivan, whose presentation included cover crops, industrial hemp and concerns pertaining to Illinois agriculture.

Sullivan became director in January after being appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The two talked about the needs of farmers in rural Illinois, and Sullivan explained that even places where there is broadband service, the speeds needed to operate a lot of the technology used today isn’t there.

Even Sullivan’s own home lacks the consistent and adequate service required to complete a webinar course to renew his real estate license. So the issue isn’t only “unserved” areas, he said, but also “underserved” areas.

Sullivan’s goal is to have adequate broadband internet available for every Illinois homeowner and business owner, which he admitted is a lofty goal.

Would La Salle-Peru be considered an undeserved area? one attendee asked Sullivan.

“I have no doubt there are areas in the La Salle-Peru area that are underserved,” Sullivan said, while admitting he’s not familiar with the service in this area.

Sullivan asked attendees if there are issues when it comes to service near La Salle-Peru, and there were nods of approval throughout the room that yes, service can be bad.

In the recently passed capital bill, there’s a provision for $420 million to be used to broadband expansion in Illinois, he said, to be used over a six-year period.

With state and federal money coming, he thinks they’ll be able to make a huge difference in service, and some estimate the state will be able to get close to a 100% coverage at the speeds needed.