The U.S. Department of Economic Administration has chosen the Center for Industrial Research and Service to continue its role in the national University Center program. According to a news release, the designation, along with a five-year grant, will provide CIRAS with the resources needed to enhance its support for Iowa’s construction industry. CIRAS will focus […]

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 U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $3,987,550 investment in a Linn County communications company to expand reliable, affordable high-speed internet. Prairieburg Telephone Company Inc. received a $1,993,775 USDA loan and a $1,993,775 USDA grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network. The funding comes from the USDA’s ReConnect Program, which is funded by the federal Bipartisan […]

Waterloo Fiber, a new city-owned and operated broadband internet utility, officially launched with a groundbreaking event on Wednesday. More than 84% of residents voted in a referendum in favor of a $20 million general obligation bond to build the fiber network. The service will offer up to 10 gigabit speeds and provide Waterloo-based customer support. […]

Google announced Tuesday it will invest $350 million at its data center campus in Council Bluffs. As one of Google’s largest data centers, the campus helps power services like Google Cloud, Workspace (including Gmail and Google Docs), Search and Maps, according to a news release. The investment also includes a $250,000 grant to Advance Southwest […]

Waterloo Fiber Internet, the city’s new, locally owned and operated municipal fiber internet utility, has announced that Eric Lage has been appointed as the first general manager of telecommunications for the utility. Lage served as general manager of Reinbeck Telecommunications Utility for nine years. The city of Waterloo and Waterloo Fiber Internet are working on […]

By Lisa Rossi Potentially thousands of Iowans will learn updated digital skills through interactions with digital coaches and navigators, individuals skilled in everything from safe internet use to operating a business online and financial security. Lindsey Newland has been the Google coach for Iowa since November of last year; she started offering workshops in March. […]

The Iowa Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer has announced more than 50 public town hall-style meetings to get feedback from Iowans on digital services, including broadband, in their area. Attendees will hear a short presentation on digital services followed by a discussion with the audience on the barriers and potential solutions […]

Ironside Systems, an Iowa-based company founded by public safety professionals Curtis Walsner and Shawn Wagner, has developed a public safety asset management tool to provide first responders that consolidates the tracking of critical resources into one database. According to a news release, the tool can track multiple assets, including radios, people and vehicles, as well […]