Thousands of homes and businesses in the Quad Cities area will get high-speed Internet access as part of a federally-funded expansion of that service.
A $53.2-million grant from the Federal Communication Commission’s ‘Connect America Fund’ will pay for expanded broadband service to nearly 90,000 homes across Iowa, according to information from Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. The grants are targeted at offering and improving Internet access in rural and underserved areas.
“We have put a focus on broadband Interned expansion because, if our small businesses are to compete in a global economy, our schools are to have access to an abundance of online learning resources and our farmers are to connect their modern equipment for precision farming, we must connect every acre with broadband infrastructure,” Branstad said.
Four providers – CenturyLink, Windstream, Frontier and Consolidated Communications – will receive grant money to increase broadband access in Iowa. CenturyLink and Windstream will increase access in Iowa counties in, and adjoining, the Quad Cities area.