iFiber helps connect COVID-19 vaccination site
iFiber recently worked with SwedishAmerican Health System in Rockford, IL, to establish a COVID-19 vaccination site at Loves Park City Hall. Because both entities are on the iFiber network, when SwedishAmerican requested an immediate connection between the two locations, iFiber was able to establish service within three hours. The collaboration between Loves Park and SwedishAmerican came about with the support of Greg Jury, Mayor of Loves Park, who also is a member of SwedishAmerican’s Board of Directors. The Loves Park COVID-19 vaccination site is capable of serving 450 patients per day. Read the full story.
iFiber expansion could increase economic opportunities in Clinton, IA
The Clinton Herald, in Clinton, IA, recently reported on approval of a resolution by the Clinton County Board of Supervisors, supporting Illinois Fiber Resources Group’s (iFiber) open access fiber optic network expansion into Clinton County. Read the full story by John Rohlf.
iFiber Continues Core Modernization Project
Illinois Fiber Resources Group (iFiber) continually works to provide the best possible platform for Internet service providers and community anchor institutions. The latest project in this effort is the upgrade of the core backbone devices of the network.
iFiber has procured a new platform for the core ring of the network, in cooperation with the iFiber equipment manufacturer Ciena. This new platform increases the bandwidth between core nodes through native 100 Gbps ports with expansion capability to 200 Gbps. In addition, this device provides more 10 Gbps ports available to customers. Read the full story.
New members join iFiber and Illinois Fiber Ventures Boards
FOUR NEW MEMBERS have joined the governing boards of Illinois Fiber Resources
Group (iFiber, a not-for-profit) and Illinois Fiber Ventures (for-profit arm of iFiber).
Kevin A. Catlin, Boone County Administrator, joined the governing board of Illinois Fiber Resources Group (iFiber) in January, 2021. Boone County has been a founding member of iFiber since its inception in 2010. Read more.
Todd Hughes, Information Technology Director for the City of Rockford, joined the iFiber and Illinois Fiber Ventures Boards in January, 2021.The City of Rockford has been a founding member of iFiber since its inception in 2010. Read more.
Jay Jorgensen, Co-Founder and COO of eX2 Technology, LLC, joined the Illinois Fiber Ventures Board in January, 2021. Jay has 25 years of experience in the telecom industry. Read more.
Ray Montelongo is the founder and president of Montel Technologies, a technology engineering firm specializing in Smart IT and physical security solutions. He joined the Illinois Fiber Ventures Board in January, 2021. Read more.
E-Rate Resources
E-Rate is a program of USAC that gives funding to schools and libraries through an open bidding process. USAC, or the Universal Services Administrative Company, is an entity designated by the Federal Communications Commission responsible for administering a roughly $10 billion fund that can be used to pay for Internet connections within impoverished regions, whether rural or urban. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) has entered into state master contracts with vendors to support ICN customers for their E-rate category 2 purchases. The state has already conducted a competitive bidding process and selected vendors. Additional information is available on the iFiber website.
Monitoring Center
Northern Illinois Monitoring Center (NIMC) is designed to provide wide-area support for iFiber Community Anchor Institution network administrators registered with NIMC to access services. The NIMC number is 1-877-753-8100, where you will hear a message and asked to choose Option 3 to reach a live agent. This service gives NIMC greater flexibility in updating emergency notification messages. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at sales@ifiber.org.  
Network Administrators: Register your organization's authorized administrators at 877-753-8100.  Sign up for e-mail alerts for advance notice about maintenance on the iFiber network or notification of a network down at  www.nimc.niu.edu
Illinois Fiber Resources Group
P.O. Box 755, Sycamore IL 60178
(815) 753-8113

E-mail: info@ifiber.org