• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / House Republicans plan $100 million for broadband expansion

House Republicans plan $100 million for broadband expansion

March 26, 2021 By O. Kay Henderson

Pat Grassley.

Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans are planning to set aside “around $100 million” in next year’s state budget to expand broadband service in Iowa.

“We’re going to have a General Fund appropriation that will make a significant investment in broadband,” Grassley says.

In January, Governor Kim Reynolds asked legislators to approve $150 million in incentives to companies that extend broadband in each of the next three years. Grassley says the lower, $100 million dollar figure fits within financial plans the House GOP is drafting.

“We look at everything, whether it’s tax policy, these new appropriations, as a global picture,” Grassley says.

Reynolds has also been pressing to ensure the communications companies getting broadband grants provide the highest upload and download speeds.

“We agree. We want world class speed,” Grassley says. “However…(in) those areas where there’s one house every four miles, does it make sense for those local providers or the state to be investing the top dollar amount to just do that? How can we do it in a different way?”

Grassley says the House plan would allow slower speeds, so companies like Mediacom that are employing what’s called fixed wireless technology to extend internet service in sparsely populated rural areas could qualify for the state incentives.

“Just between our farm and where my grandfather grew up is a fixed wireless tower where they’re providing service to dozens of homes with one place where fiber has been run,” Grassley says, “so there’s a way we think we can do this to get world class speed as well as a quick rollout and reach some of those areas that are hard to reach.”

Grassley made his comments this morning during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight on Iowa PBS.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Legislature, Republican Party, Utilities

Featured Stories

ISU research finds health benefits for chickens watching virtual reality

Fish kill at Storm Lake linked to virus that impacts only carp

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Improved offense a must for Drake

UNI volleyball motivated to bounce back

Iowa’s DeJean a factor in a number of spots

Grinnell College football looks for more progress in rebuild

Iowa State’s Brock eyes expanded role

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC