Miles SmithThe Iowa Department of Management, Division of Information Technology is making $400 million available to facilitate broadband infrastructure and deployment across the state. The round will officially open for applications today and will close July 30.
Released through the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program, the initiative pulls from the federal Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to improve broadband access and equity across unserved or underserved locations. Unserved areas are categorized as locations with internet speeds less than 25/3mbps, whereas underserved areas have speeds of at least 25/3mbps but less than 100/20mbps.
Applicants will be able to receive up to 75% in federal matching funds for projects through the program. The funds may be used to either acquire middle-mile network services from a third party or build new middle-mile networks.
Construction projects must be necessary to facilitate last-mile qualifying broadband to eligible service areas. They may include middle mile infrastructure in or through areas needed to reach interconnection points or to ensure the project is sustainable and feasible.
The new round of funding will be the ninth of its kind in Iowa. Notably, the BEAD program has new guidance that impacts how it functions, establishing updated requirements and standards for the state and participants.
A major shift in the program is the adoption of a technology-neutral approach for subgrantees. This means that all broadband technologies meeting performance requirements are eligible to compete in the program, eliminating the previous fiber-first preference. Eligible technologies include:
- Fiber-optic.
- Cable modem.
- Low earth orbit satellite.
- Terrestrial fixed wireless.
In addition, eligible location lists will be changed to accommodate areas that are no longer served due to defaults or changes in service areas. Providers of unlicensed fixed wireless service will be able to prove that sites in their networks are currently served and should be excluded from the BEAD location list.
All recipients are now required to provide one Low-Cost Service Option for those who meet the requirements for the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline Program. The option must deliver speeds that minimally meet 100/20mbps and have a latency of no greater than 100 milliseconds.
Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels
