DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa is closer to getting $100 million for broadband expansion in the state.
The Iowa House has approved the money, which falls short of Governor Kim Reynolds goal of $150 million.
Democrats wanted to use federal pandemic money to pay for the expansion, but the Republican majority chose the use state money instead.
The broadband expansion still needs approval in the Iowa Senate to move forward.
The funding is part of a spending plan, known as the Administration and Regulation budget bill, which lawmakers will need to finalize before adjourning for the year at the end of April. It passed the House by a 55-37 margin.
The broadband expansion will likely include requirements passed by lawmakers earlier this month - including minimal upload and download speeds of 100 megabits where possible and an emphasis on extending broadband into hard-to-reach areas.
About a third of Iowa's 99 counties have spotty internet coverage, and Reynolds as well as some lawmakers have said Iowa also has the second-lowest broadband speeds in the country. The site Highspeedinternet.com rates Iowa as having the 7th lowest broadband speeds in the U.S.
House Republicans said they choose to fund the broadband expansion with state grant money because federal pandemic relief funding would likely come with unwanted federal regulations.
Governor Reynolds has set a goal of spending $450 million on broadband expansion over the next three years. Members of her administration have suggested federal money could supplement funding supplied by lawmakers to reach that goal.