Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Applications Available

September 26, 2019

The offices of Gov. Reynolds and the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) jointly announced last week that grant applications for private sector communication services providers and public entities seeking to expand rural high-speed internet services in underserved areas of the state are now available. Five million dollars in grant funds are available to be awarded as a result of the Empower Rural Iowa legislation approved earlier this year. The grant application window is from Sept. 20 through Oct. 18.

The OCIO also unveiled a new targeted services area broadband map that incorporates the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission and shows the areas that are eligible for grant funds under the program. Learn more about the grant process. ABI expects broadband to be a topic of conversation during the 2020 legislative session, as the governor has commented she would like to see additional appropriations expended to expand broadband.