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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Empower Rural Iowa grant program has invested over $350M so far By Lisa Rossi More than 100,000 homes, schools and businesses across Iowa will now have access to broadband internet due to a grant program that is funneling hundreds of millions in funding toward this effort. Rural Iowans say broadband will level the playing field […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently opened a window for qualifying entities to seek grants for technical assistance for broadband projects. A total of $20 million has been allocated to these grants, which will deliver broadband technical assistance and training and support the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives, according to the department. Eligible applicants include […]
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 […]
President Joe Biden announced Monday the commitment of 20 internet service providers to provide discounted internet to low-income households under the Affordable Connectivity Program, which passed as part of the infrastructure package, the Associated Press reported. The program creates $30 monthly subsidies for low-income households and $75 per month for tribal areas to pay for internet […]
Five rural Iowa communities in Crawford and Keokuk counties can now access Mediacom Communications’ fiber-optic network, the company has announced. The extension of the network was powered by two grant awards from the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program totaling more than $150,000 and $1 million of Mediacom’s private capital. The five communities are Deloit, Kiron, […]
Plus a look at how citywide broadband could expand in Iowa After Mediacom filed a lawsuit against the city in December 2020, the future of West Des Moines’ initiative to construct a citywide conduit network capable of delivering broadband internet to all residents was left in question. Now the project is moving forward; settlement negotiations began in […]
Iowa State University has received approval to form a new Center for Wireless, Communities and Innovation (WiCI) from the Iowa Board of Regents, Clay & Milk reported. Expanding broadband service to rural areas and bringing in rural perspectives and leadership on Iowa’s broadband initiatives are the driving forces to create the center. The WiCI will attempt to […]