The Department of Management Division of Information Technology, formerly the Office of the Chief Information Officer, has awarded $148,960,000 as part of the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant program. Awards are going to 39 broadband providers in 47 Iowa counties. This round of grant funds will be used to incentivize broadband infrastructure build out in the newly established Broadband Intervention Zones (BIZ). Through feedback from 55 public meetings in Iowa communities, 96 BIZ zones were created across the state. These are areas deemed to be in the most need for broadband infrastructure expansion. To learn more about the program and view the list of awardees, click here.
