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Reynolds signs rural broadband bill into law

Governor Reynolds has signed legislation to expand broadband access to rural Iowans.

At a signing ceremony in Des Moines Wednesday, Reynolds said she’s thrilled at the opportunity to sign a bill that transforms Iowa’s broadband infrastructure into a powerful network that will enable fast, high-quality connectivity equally across the entire state.

The bill passed unanimously in the legislature and will provide $100 million to fund grants that broadband internet providers can use for projects like fiber-optic cable installation.

Reynolds says Iowa currently has the second-slowest broadband speeds in the country and a third of Iowa’s 99 counties are in what she refers to as broadband deserts.