Ask Me Anything! with Matt Schmit, Director of the Illinois Office of Broadband

About Our Distinguished Guest

Matt Schmit has been is Director of the Illinois Office of Broadband since 2019, and has been working for more than 20 years in economic development. He is responsible for Illinois' $420 million investment in Connect Illinois and more than $1 billion through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. 

Prior to his work in Illinois, Matt served as a Minnesota state senator, where he was instrumental in establishing that state's broadband office. Now, as the director the broadband program in Illinois, Matt is optimistic about the opportunity achieve universal broadband connectivity.

In addition, Matt has served on the Cook County Council on Digital Equity (CODE), the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute board, the Blandin Broadband Strategies board, the St John's University Board of Regents, and the Legislative Water Commission; represented Minnesota on the National Conference of State Legislators Nuclear Energy Work Group and Commerce Committee; and was an active member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and State Ag and Rural Leaders.