DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa now has $100 million to spend on broadband expansion in the state.
Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a budget bill which includes the money to be used on a grant program to build out high speed access.
Reynolds had asked for more money ($450 million over three years), but is still calling the $100 million investment historic.
State lawmakers have said they'll dedicate more money for broadband in the upcoming years.
About a third of Iowa's 99 counties have spotty internet coverage.
The site Highspeedinternet.com rates Iowa as having the 7th lowest broadband speeds in the U.S. Reynolds as well as some lawmakers have said Iowa also has the second-lowest broadband speeds in the country.
Reynolds signed a different law last month to install broadband to high-need areas in the state. It called for faster upload and download speeds and for service to be extending into hard-to-reach areas.
The law signed Monday will help with the funding. The $100 million will be used in a grant program for companies to build broadband infrastructure.
“This bill provides a historic $100 million investment in broadband that will transform our infrastructure into a powerful network, enabling fast, high-quality connectivity statewide and opening doors to new opportunities for communities large and small,” said Gov. Reynolds. “I want to thank the Legislature for their commitment to funding the broadband grant program and to the providers for their dedication to this initiative.