Broadband Grants

OFFICIAL NOTICE: November 9, 2023. The Department of Management, Division of Information Technology has announced the Notice of Intent to Award for Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) #008 for the Empower Rural Broadband Grant Program, awarding $148,960,000 for broadband expansion in Iowa. This opportunity has now closed. Learn about the NOFA #8 awards.

OFFICIAL NOTICE: May 5, 2023. The Department of Management, Division of Information Technology ("DoIT") has announced the Broadband Intervention Zones to be used to prioritize future broadband funding. On March 1, 2023, the Office issued Invitation to Qualify #001 - Broadband Intervention Zones, which opened the Application Acceptance Window for this ITQ.  The purpose of the Invitation to Qualify was to solicit Applications from Communities lacking Broadband. Successful Applications to the ITQ are used by the DiUT to establish Broadband Intervention Zones to be used to prioritize areas for future broadband funding.  View more information about ITQ awards.

OFFICIAL NOTICE: January 4, 2022. The Department of Management, Division of Information Technology has posted the Notice of Intent to Award for Notice of Funding Availability #007, awarding approximately $210 million in federal American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to expand access to broadband in Iowa. This opportunity has now closed. View more information about NOFA 7 awards.

In 2021, The Department of Management, Division of Information Technology issued Notice of Intent to Award for Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) #006 for the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program, awarding $97,500,000.00 for broadband expansion in Iowa. This grant round was based on renewed Targeted Service Area determinations published to an updated version of the Statewide Broadband Availability Map V4 published on July 1, 2021. View more information about NOFA 6 awards.

In 2021, $15,452,302 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds were made available under the Empower Rural Iowa Grant Program as part of NOFA #005. 42 applications were received by DoIT and 14 applications were awarded funds under NOFA #005 to provide 100/100, 50/5, or 25/3 broadband service. This opportunity is now closed.

In 2020, $5 million in state funds were made available under the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. On December 23, 2020, the Department of Management, Division of Information Technology awarded 13 applications with $4,950,000 in state funding made available under Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program Notice of Funding Availability #004. 

In 2020, $50 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds were made available under the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. This grant program distributed federal CARES Act funding to eligible Communication Service Providers to expand access to broadband services in the State of Iowa in connection with the requirements of the Act. On August 21, 2020 the DoIT issued a Notice of Intent To Award for 71 applications.  Review information concerning NOFA #003. NOTE: This grant opportunity did not include any state funds.

In 2019, $5 million in new program funds were made available for the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant program. This funding was distributed through Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) #002. The DoIT held an Application Acceptance Window from September 20, 2019 through October 22, 2019.  On November 27, 2019, the Office issued a Notice of Intent To Award for 17 applications. Information concerning NOFA #002, grant awards, applications received, and public comments can be found at the link above.

In 2018, $1.3 million in program funds was made available for the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant program. This funding was distributed through Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) #001. The DoIT held an Application Acceptance Window from February 18, 2019 through March 15, 2019. On April 30, 2019, the DoIT issued a Notice of Intent To Award for 7 applications. Review information concerning NOFA #001, grant awards, applications received, and public comments.