The Department of Management Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has released a new broadband internet map for the state of Iowa.
The newly released map gives an updated look at the current condition of broadband internet access in the state.
The publication of the map commences a 30-day challenge process where the public, broadband providers, and communities throughout Iowa can submit information to the OCIO wherever they believe the map incorrectly reports broadband service data. The challenge window lasts until Sept. 1.
The ultimate goal of the map is to “facilitate decisions concerning future spending under federally-funded broadband programs.”
Sources for the map include the FCC and third parties retained by the OCIO. The office says that “unlike prior broadband coverage maps, Map v5 identifies broadband coverage by individual address locations, making Map v5 far more granular than prior maps that displayed eligibility at the census block level.”
According to the announcement, households with internet speeds slower than 100 upload/20 download may be eligible for a future grant opportunity by the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Program.
Previous coverage
$210 million in grants awarded to improve broadband access in Iowa