Partnership for a Connected Illinois

What Partnership for a Connected Illinois does

Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with a second office in Springfield. The organization was formed to advance broadband deployment and adoption across Illinois and subsequently expanded into telehealth advocacy, education, and demonstration programming. PCI operates as a neutral convener rather than a technology product vendor, bringing together healthcare providers, policymakers, school districts, community organizations, and legal/industry associations to address broadband access gaps and telehealth adoption barriers. Its work has historically been anchored in federal broadband stimulus funding, overseeing more than $305 million in expenditure that expanded broadband across 3,593 miles of Illinois during 2010-2014.

PCI's programmatic portfolio centers on the Illinois Telehealth Initiative (ITI), launched in 2015, which includes the Illinois Telehealth Law and Policy Forums (2,200+ attendees since 2016), the Excellence in Telehealth Leadership Awards (annual since 2017), the School Telebehavioral Health Demonstration Project in five Chicago Public Schools (serving over 100 students and families via Erie Family Health Centers and Rush University Medical Center), and youth mental health crisis programming in K-12 schools in Cook County and statewide. The organization also maintains interactive broadband mapping tools for Illinois coverage and speeds. PCI does not develop proprietary technology products; its deliverables are convening events, demonstration projects, policy reports, and online maps.

PCI's revenue model is grant-funded, with no commercial product or service sales. Direct grant inflows include $6.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) broadband stimulus funding over 2010-2014 and foundation support from the Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute (2019-April 2023) for K-12 telebehavioral health evaluation and digital health vendor research. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, the organization has 1-10 employees, and operations are sustained through foundation, state, and federal grants rather than earned income. PCI is governed by a Board of Directors with no parent company or equity holders.

Name

Partnership for a Connected Illinois

Legal name

Partnership for a Connected Illinois

Website

https://broadbandillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Partnership for a Connected Illinois is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advances broadband deployment and telehealth adoption across Illinois through stakeholder convening, K-12 telebehavioral health demonstration projects, policy forums, and broadband mapping tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Telehealth and Broadband Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Behavioral Health Integration Platforms (HLALABAE)

Keywords

• Broadband infrastructure advocacy
• Telehealth policy advocacy
• Digital health equity
• School telebehavioral health
• Nonprofit stakeholder convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: PCI operates primarily through grant funding from foundations and government programs. Major grants include funding from the Sprague Institute for planning school-based telebehavioral health programs, and federal broadband stimulus funding ($6.5 million in ARRA funding over 2010-2014).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PCI advances broadband deployment and telehealth adoption in Illinois through stakeholder convening, educational forums, demonstration projects, and policy advocacy. The organization's flagship program is the Illinois Telehealth Initiative (ITI), which provides a neutral forum for healthcare providers, policymakers, schools, and community organizations. PCI also runs school-based telebehavioral health demonstration projects and publishes interactive broadband coverage maps.

Product overview

Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as a convener and advocate for broadband deployment and telehealth adoption across Illinois. Rather than offering a unified software product, PCI operates a portfolio of programs and initiatives centered on its flagship Illinois Telehealth Initiative (ITI), which provides a neutral forum for telehealth stakeholders. These programs include school-based telebehavioral health demonstration projects, educational forums (Illinois Telehealth Law and Policy Forums), annual awards (Excellence in Telehealth Leadership Awards), and youth mental health crisis initiatives. PCI also maintains broadband mapping tools for finding and requesting broadband service statewide. The organization functions as a public-private partnership facilitator rather than a technology product vendor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Illinois Telehealth Initiative (ITI): A program of PCI launched in 2015 to advance telehealth services in Illinois through convening stakeholders, presenting forums, and supporting behavioral health services in schools.

Products and services

• Illinois Telehealth Initiative (ITI) A program of Partnership for a Connected Illinois launched in 2015 to advance telehealth in Illinois. Creates a neutral forum convening telehealth stakeholders to support advancement of telehealth services, with focus on behavioral health services for children in K-12 schools.
• School Telebehavioral Health Program Demonstration project bringing telebehavioral health services to Chicago Public Schools, providing behavioral health care to underserved student populations through partnerships with Erie Family Health Centers and Rush University Medical Center.
• Illinois Telehealth Law and Policy Forums Annual forums presented since 2016 examining the telehealth landscape in Illinois and the broader Midwest, with over 2,200 attendees. Forums feature interactive panel discussions on legal/regulatory environment, reimbursement trends, and telemedicine delivery models.
• Excellence in Telehealth Leadership Awards Annual awards luncheons since 2017 recognizing organizations and individuals demonstrating excellence in telehealth leadership, including improving care for underserved populations, advancing policy changes, and innovation in telehealth.
• Broadband Mapping Tools Interactive web tools for finding and requesting broadband service, including maps indicating broadband coverage and speeds across the state of Illinois, developed in collaboration with broadband providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,200 attendees at Illinois Telehealth Law and Policy Forums since 2016
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Erie Family Health CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the School Telebehavioral Health Demonstration Project, operating school-based health clinics in Chicago Public Schools. Erie provides telebehavioral health services to students and expanded the project to additional schools.
• Rush University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner operating school-based health clinics participating in the telebehavioral health demonstration project. Rush provides clinical providers and healthcare infrastructure for school-based telehealth services.
• Aunt Martha'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization in the Youth Mental Health Crisis initiative, working on planning pilots for school-based behavioral health services.
• EverThrive IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in mental health initiatives, advocating for policy changes and supporting school-based telebehavioral health programs in Illinois.
• Illinois Critical Access Hospital NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for PCI forums and events, representing rural hospitals interested in telehealth adoption.
• Illinois Health and Hospital AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for PCI programs and forums, advocating for telehealth policy changes and Medicaid reimbursement for school-based health centers.
• Illinois State Medical SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization promoting telehealth advancement among physicians in Illinois.
• McDermott Will and Emery LLPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm sponsor for telehealth forums and events, providing legal expertise on telehealth regulation and policy. Named Platinum Telehealth Initiative Sponsor.
• MetopiosupportingTechnology or IntegrationData analytics company founded by Angie Grover, board member, providing data insights for health policy and program development.
• Illinois Telehealth NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for telehealth initiatives and network development across Illinois.
• Connected Health InitiativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative supporting connected health technology and policy, collaborating with PCI on telehealth advancement.
• Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of IllinoissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for mental health telehealth initiatives and community behavioral health programs.
• Illinois Association of Healthcare AttorneyssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization providing legal expertise for telehealth law forums and policy development.
• Mental Health SummitsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating initiative focused on mental health awareness and services, supporting PCI's behavioral health programs.
• Telehealth Resource CenterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational and regional telehealth resource centers (Upper Midwest, South Central, Heartland) facilitating action planning sessions and providing expertise for state telehealth initiatives.
• Chicago Public Schools (CPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school district for the telebehavioral health demonstration project, with Dr. Ken Fox, Chief Health Officer, supporting expansion to additional schools.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition: National non-profit advocating for broadband expansion to anchor institutions including schools, libraries, and health clinics. Directly comparable to PCI's broadband access advocacy mission focused on community anchor institutions.
• American Telemedicine Association (ATA): National non-profit trade association that convenes telehealth stakeholders through annual conferences, policy advocacy, and working groups. Comparable to PCI as a telehealth advocacy and convening organization, though operating at a national rather than state level.
• Connected Health Initiative: National connected health technology and policy initiative that collaborates with PCI on telehealth advancement. Comparable as a policy advocacy organization supporting connected health adoption across the U.S.
• Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP): California-based non-profit that serves as a national telehealth policy resource and convener, producing policy briefs, hosting forums, and tracking state telehealth legislation. Directly comparable to PCI's Illinois Telehealth Initiative model of neutral policy convening and stakeholder education.
• Connected Nation: Non-profit focused on expanding broadband access and adoption across U.S. states, including broadband mapping, policy research, and state-level program administration. Closely comparable to PCI's original broadband deployment and mapping mission, operating as a multi-state peer.
• National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers: Federally funded network of regional telehealth resource centers providing technical assistance, education, and convening. Comparable to PCI as PCI is a Supporting organization partner and they share the stakeholder convening and telehealth education model.
• Illinois Telehealth Network: Statewide telehealth network and PCI Supporting organization partner that promotes telehealth adoption across Illinois, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Direct peer in Illinois telehealth convening and stakeholder coordination.

Broad incumbents

• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS): Large global non-profit focused on health information and technology, hosting major conferences and policy forums including on telehealth and digital health. Comparable to PCI as a broader incumbent with overlapping convening and policy activity.

Regional players

• California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC): Regional telehealth resource center providing telehealth education, training, and stakeholder convening in California. Comparable peer operating at state/regional level rather than directly competing with PCI's Illinois focus.

Emerging players

• National Digital Inclusion Alliance: National non-profit advancing digital equity and broadband adoption for underserved communities. Comparable to PCI's digital inclusion and broadband access mission, particularly in underserved Illinois communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/brobandillinois
• Facebookfacebook.com/broadbandillinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/partnership-for-a-connected-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Partnership for a Connected Illinois