Section 8B.11. Connecting Iowa farms, schools, and communities — broadband grants — fund.

  1.  The office shall administer a broadband grant program to award grants to communications service providers that reduce or eliminate targeted service areas by installing broadband infrastructure in targeted service areas in accordance with this section.

  2.  a.  A connecting Iowa farms, schools, and communities broadband grant fund is established in the state treasury under the authority of the office. The fund shall consist of moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the office. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the office to be used for the grant program.

  b.  The office shall use moneys in the fund to provide grants to communications service providers pursuant to this section. The office shall use moneys in the fund to leverage available federal moneys if possible.

  c.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.

  3.  Communications service providers may apply to the office for a grant pursuant to this section for the installation of broadband infrastructure that facilitates broadband service at or above twenty-five megabits per second of download speed and three megabits per second of upload speed in targeted service areas. The office shall include representatives from schools, communities, agriculture, industry, and other areas as appropriate to review and recommend grant awards. The office shall conduct an open application review process and include a public internet site for applications, results, and performance.

  4.  a.  The office shall award grants on a competitive basis after considering the following:

  (1)  The relative need for broadband infrastructure in the area and the existing broadband service speeds.

  (2)  The percentage of the homes, farms, schools, and businesses in the targeted service area that will be provided access to broadband service.

  (3)  The geographic diversity of the project areas of all the applicants.

  (4)  The economic impact of the project to the area.

  (5)  The applicant’s total proposed budget for the project, including the amount or percentage of local match, if any.

  (6)  Other factors the office deems relevant.

  b.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the office shall not evaluate applications based on the office’s knowledge of the applicant except for the information provided in the application.

  5.  The office shall not award a grant pursuant to this section that exceeds fifteen percent of the communications service provider’s project cost.

  6.  The office shall provide public notice regarding the application process and receipt of funding.

  7.  The office shall not award a grant pursuant to this section on or after July 1, 2020.

  8.  The office shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A, including but not limited to the broadband grant program process, management, and measurements as deemed necessary by the office.

2015 Acts, ch 120, §32

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