Iowa snags nearly $6 million to boost high-speed internet access - Des Moines Register

The Biden medication is sending astir $6 cardinal to Iowa to amended high-speed internet, portion of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $65 cardinal program to grow affordable high-speed integer entree crossed the country.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said Monday that Iowa's $5.7 cardinal assistance is its archetypal “Internet for All” award, designed to boost high-speed Internet networks and make integer skills grooming programs. All 50 U.S. states and six territories applied for and received grants.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo thanked Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for "her efforts to bring broadband to agrarian and unserved areas of Iowa."

Of the assistance total, $5 cardinal volition spell to the authorities to place barriers to precocious velocity access, among different work, and astir $700,000 to guarantee each families and communities, careless of income, determination oregon different factors, person the benefits that broadband provide.

Also past week, the Commerce Department announced the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi successful Iowa — oregon the Meskwaki Nation — would person a astir $425,000 assistance to upgrade instrumentality truthful tribal homes tin link to existing fibre internet, among different initiatives.

More:Here's what to cognize astir however caller high-speed net programs impact Iowans

“Broadband helps make adjacent learning opportunities for kids successful school, expands telehealth options, and helps Iowa’s tiny businesses compete,” said U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, an Iowa Democrat who supported the legislation, successful a statement.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who besides voted for the bill, agreed.

“While we’ve made large advancement successful expanding net entree successful agrarian Iowa, there’s much enactment to do," Grassley said successful a statement.

Last week, the  Federal Communications Commission released an updated broadband map.

“For years we’ve struggled to find the nonstop contours of the integer divide," said Alan Davidson, head of the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration. "The FCC’s caller representation provides the astir precise appraisal to day of Internet haves and have-nots.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the situation and vigor for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com oregon 515-284-8457.