ComEd works with Illinois nonprofit to provide affordable broadband in Chicago

QUILT, a nonprofit supporting disadvantaged communities in Illinois, will license reserve fiber optics on the ComEd system to provide affordable high-speed broadband service on Chicago’s South and West Sides.

“We are excited that our work to modernize our grid provides the added benefit of supporting efforts by QUILT and other companies to improve access to high-speed broadband and enable customers in underserved communities to harness the benefits of the digital age,” Gil Quiniones, president and CEO of ComEd, said.

QUILT will initiate deployment of high-speed broadband infrastructure in North Lawndale, Woodlawn, and South Shore and then it will expand service to additional neighborhoods over the coming months and years. QUILT will work with NODE Networks to ensure that affordable high-speed connectivity extends to every corner of the communities served.

QUILT’S customers can expect a range of broadband services tailored to their needs, including internet plans with speeds ranging from 100 megabits to 1 gigabit per second. They will also get digital literacy training, workforce development, and job placement.

“We are deeply committed to providing equitable access to essential digital services and workforce development opportunities,” Dwayne Douglas, CEO of QUILT and CEO of NODE Networks, said. “In today’s interconnected world, access to high-speed broadband is a fundamental necessity for economic and social empowerment. By increasing affordability and accessibility to broadband service, we are not only closing the digital divide but also unlocking opportunities for residents and businesses in these communities to thrive in the digital economy. Through workshops, seminars, hands-on training sessions, and job-focused initiatives, we will empower residents to become creators, innovators, and skilled professionals, harnessing the power of emerging technologies to drive positive change in their communities.”

Similar agreement to this one with QUILT wil be enabled by a $14.6 million grant awarded to ComEd last year by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (NTIA).

ComEd, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, serves approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers in Illinois.

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