A budget bill signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds Monday will provide $100 million to Iowa’s new broadband grant program.
The money will come from the state’s general fund and be sent to the Office of the Chief Information Officer for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021.
“This bill provides a historic $100 million investment in broadband that will transform our infrastructure into a powerful network, enabling fast, high-quality connectivity statewide and opening doors to new opportunities for communities large and small,” said Gov. Reynolds in a release. “I want to thank the Legislature for their commitment to funding the broadband grant program and to the providers for their dedication to this initiative.”
In January, Governor Kim Reynolds called on legislators to allocate $150 million for the program. House and Senate lawmakers settled on the $100 million mark. Reynolds plans to ask the 2022 Iowa legislature to provide an additional $300 million more state dollars for the program in each of the next two years.