During the Condition of the State address, Governor Kim Reynolds said she wants to continue to devote Iowa dollars to expanding internet access to all areas of the state. "We have come a long way already. U.S. News & World Report says, 'the Hawkeye State leads the nation in efforts to bring ultra-fast internet access to every city block and every rural acre.' But there’s still more to do. To ensure that every part of Iowa has the same opportunity, I am requesting $20 million, split over two years, for broadband infrastructure. This funding will accelerate expansion and leverage an additional $120 million in private investment for high-speed internet," Gov. Reynolds said.
State leaders meet in Elkins to discuss economic strategy, high-speed broadband access
During an Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, state legislators brought up the need for high-speed broadband connectivity. State Sen. Greg Boso called on Verizon and AT&T to "at least build the infrastructure so that it encourages them to branch off of th...
US Census Bureau finds stark rural-urban broadband divide
The latest American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau reinforces how stark the digital divide is between urban and rural areas. Among counties where fewer than 60% of homes lacked broadband internet subscriptions, 88% were mostly or completely rural. Lack of access was al...
New Hampshire towns might start making their own broadband
The town of Bristol has voter permission to spend $98,500, and hopefully another $33,000 next year, combined with a $132,000 grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission, to build three miles of fiber backbone through its main business district. The system, which will enter ...
Nominee for Mills Cabinet sees broadband access as key to Maine economy
Gov.-elect Janet Mills nominated Heather Johnson, the woman charged with expanding broadband access in Maine, to be her economic development commissioner on Thursday. Johnson, who has a background in public- and private-sector economic development and communications, now heads the...
Gov. Reynolds announces $1.3 million in broadband grant funding
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Friday that $1.3 million in broadband grant funding is available, with the purpose of the grants being to improve broadband access for Iowans and to eliminate underserved (targeted service areas) areas across the state. The grant program allows for...
Lawmakers look to bring high-speed Internet to rural Georgia
After six months of negotiations, representatives of local governments and the wireless industry have reached agreement on legislation making it easier to deploy next-generation small-cell wireless technology critical to business growth in Georgia.