Nine companies will receive close to $100-million dollars over the next 10 years to improve internet connectivity across Illinois. 

The C-E-O of Wisper I-S-P Incorporated, Nathan Stooke (rhymes with "book") owns one of the nine firms and explains what's all involved;

Of all companies nationwide, the Federal Communications Commission awarded southern Illinois-based Wisper more than $220-million to improve internet service in rural Illinois and five other states;

The Mascoutah (muh-SCOO-tuh)-based company has 80 employees now and expects to grow to at least 300 to do the job needed and meet F-C-C requirements.