$100 million in federal funds from the new infrastructure bill will be added to $300 billion in other spending already pledged by the state.
Rural Iowans struggling to get high-speed internet could see significant improvements under new state and federal plans to invest at least $400 million to improve access and affordability. Iowa and other states across the nation will receive a minimum of $100 million apiece to improve broadband access through President Joe Biden’s recently approved $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves said Friday. Altogether, the bill provides $65 billion for improved broadband access. The federal investment comes on the heels of Gov. Kim Reynolds‘ announcement last month that the state will use $200 million provided through the federal American Rescue Plan to bolster broadband access. That’s on top of nearly $100 million in state funding announced in September. MORE: Struggling for access, rural Iowa hopes high-speed internet can reverse decline Many parts of rural Iowa, home to 1.3 million people, rely on fixed wireless internet, a service broadcast from a fixed location such as a tower.
