A study by University of Illinois Extension, based on surveys of more than 11,700 households in 28 counties between 2022 and 2025, concludes that nearly four out of five rural residents with fixed connections recorded speeds classified as "unserved" or "underserved" under FCC benchmarks.
A study by University of Illinois Extension, published by Farmdoc, concludes that rural broadband in Illinois remains inadequate despite the expansion of coverage. The research surveyed more than 11,700 households in 28 counties between 2022 and 2025, as part of the mapping efforts of the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is funded with $42.45 billion.
Speed tests show that nearly four out of five rural residents with fixed connections recorded speeds classified as "unserved" — below 25/3 megabits per second (Mbps) — or "underserved" — below 100/20 Mbps — under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) benchmarks. Respondents' perceptions reflect similar difficulties: nearly 60% of households were dissatisfied with the price of the service and more than 50% with speed and reliability.
The study did not record a marked improvement in 2024–25 compared with 2022–23 on those same measures, which indicates that, although satellite alternatives can close access gaps, they do not yet resolve quality problems in the same way as fixed infrastructure. The 28 counties surveyed were grouped according to the USDA's 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, which classify counties by their metropolitan status and the size of their largest urban population; the data show that not all rural counties start from the same level of infrastructure.
A small proportion of respondents, close to 6%, identified themselves as agricultural operations and answered questions specific to the sector. Fewer than half were satisfied with their connections: only 39% said they were satisfied with their connection's capacity to support precision agriculture.
In addition, one third of these respondents indicated that they had no local fixed connections, so they depended on satellite broadband or mobile or cellular internet, such as mobile hotspots or dedicated wireless devices. In response, nearly 60% of agricultural operations expressed a willingness to host broadband equipment on their land to support the expansion of service.
The survey's open-ended responses describe the experience of living inside these gaps. A recurring theme was not the absence of infrastructure, but the impossibility of connecting to nearby fiber: residents reported that fiber-optic lines are installed along adjacent highways, across neighboring fields or even past their properties, yet remain unavailable because the service was intended for schools, commercial customers or public institutions.
Others noted that they could not obtain service unless neighboring households agreed to multiyear contracts or shared the substantial costs of last-mile construction, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Satellite internet has emerged as a practical alternative in some places, but monthly fees and up-front equipment costs can create financial burdens for households and small operations with tight budgets. The study also notes that faster connectivity is associated with higher farmland values and cash rents.
The work underscores that reliable, high-quality broadband is increasingly important for the competitiveness of production agriculture and for the well-being of rural households. Although the results reflect trends in Illinois, the main conclusions are relevant to other rural communities in the Midwest and in other regions of the country; improving the quality and reliability of service requires collaboration among federal, state and local governments, broadband providers, community organizations and citizens.
