Senator Joni Ernst was in the Carroll Broadcasting listening area today (Friday), touring work sites with Western Iowa Networks (WIN) employees to see firsthand how broadband internet is installed. Ernst was joined on her tour by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, and he says it was a privilege to see firsthand how the installation process is done, especially in rural Iowa.
Ernst echoed Carr’s comments, saying it is great to see the work being done to make rural Iowa thrive.
Most of the rural broadband grants are issued at the state level and are designed to reduce or eliminate areas of Iowa that are unserved by broadband services. The grant leverages federal funds and public and private partnerships by awarding grants to communications service providers for broadband infrastructure installation. Ernst says she thinks the program has been great for rural areas; however, she expects challenges in the future.
Ernst and Carr made their comments Friday at a Western Iowa Networks work site outside of Willey.
