Areas in red on the map represent WIN’s current serving areas. Orange represents areas where fiber will be constructed in 2022, and green represents areas which will be constructed in 2023.
Just a week after Western Iowa Networks (WIN) announced its second fiber expansion project in Mills County, the telecommunications company is detailing its plans to expand their service areas even further. The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) recently awarded WIN nearly $7.5 million through the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program to provide broadband services to rural residents in Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Fremont, Mills, and Pottawattamie Counties. The funds will be combined with a $5.3 million investment from the company to connect customers in rural communities that have lacked high-speed internet options. Locally, those communities include Auburn, Glidden, Halbur, Vail, Nemaha, Roselle, Willey, and others. This is the seventh time WIN has been selected to receive funding through Empower Rural Iowa. CEO, Jeff Roiland, says, “We are excited to receive these grants as they will allow us to expand fiber optics to many more rural areas in Iowa. We are proud to have been the only company in Iowa to be successful in all seven rounds of these grants. Having access to the services we offer over fiber optics will truly enhance the quality of life for residents in these areas.” Residents can contact their office at 888-508-2946 for exact locations.
