Broadband Office Name: Iowa Office of the Department of Management of Information Technology (DOM-DoIT)
BEAD Award Amount: $415.3 M
Iowa Broadband Director: Kraig Paulsen
Website: https://dom.iowa.gov/broadband
Iowa BEAD Program Tracker
| State | IP Vol 1 Approval | IP Vol 2 Approval | Challenge Process Submission Closed | Challenge Process Final Determination Phase Completed | 1-Year Subgrantee Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A |
Iowa BEAD Program Information
Key Updates
The Iowa Office of the Department of Management of Information Technology (DOM-DoIT) is currently in the Rebuttal Window of its Challenge Process, which began on June 14.
There will be 45 days for the Rebuttal Phase followed by 45 days for the Adjudication Phase.
Iowa BEAD Program Plans & Maps
Iowa BEAD Program Initial Proposal Volume 2: Overview
*Information is subject to change. Iowa is awaiting official approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2 from the NTIA.
BEAD Long-Term Objectives
Foster Innovation and Economic Growth Through Broadband Deployment:
- Promote the use of digital technologies in key sectors of the Iowa economy, such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and small businesses.
- Encourage private sector investment in broadband infrastructure and services through the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative.
- Establish relationships between universities, research institutions, and industry to explore new broadband-enabled applications and services.
Develop a Skilled Workforce to Support Iowa’s Broadband Economy:
- Collaborate with Iowa’s educational institutions to develop and expand broadband-related degree programs.
- Assist in the development of apprenticeship and internship programs.
- Work with employers to identify current and future workforce needs and help connect them with qualified candidates.
Improve Access to E-Government Services by Promoting Digital Equity and Inclusion for All Iowans:
- Identify and address barriers to broadband adoption among disadvantaged groups.
- Explore digital skills training programs and resources to improve digital literacy and inclusion.
- Partner with community organizations, libraries, and educational institutions to provide training and resources.
Support Telehealth and Other Remote Services:
- Promote the use of broadband infrastructure to support telehealth and other remote services in rural and underserved areas.
- Encourage healthcare providers to adopt telehealth technology to increase access to care and reduce healthcare costs.
- Collaborate with other state agencies and organizations to identify additional remote services that could benefit from broadband connectivity, such as education and job training.
Iowa BEAD Program Project Area Design
Applicants will define their own proposed project areas by completing the Project Worksheet provided to them in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Iowa BEAD Program Extremely High Cost Threshold
The Extremely High Cost Per Location Threshold will be identified by considering a number of resources, historical analysis, and data captured during the BEAD application process. This includes data related to costs, locations, and technology.
BEAD Deployment Subgrantee Selection
Iowa is asking for the following preregistration evidence from subgrantees and compliance with: Financial capability, managerial capability, operational capability, technical capability, ownership info, public funding info, compliance with laws, cybersecurity/supply chain compliance, and BABA/EHP/NEPA/NHPA compliance.
Primary Scoring Criteria for Priority Broadband Projects
- 25 pts – Federal Matching Funds Requested
- 25 pts – Affordability
- 5 pts – Fair Labor Practices
Secondary Scoring Criteria
- 12.5 pts – Early Completion Date
- 12.5 pts – Prospective Product Attributes
BEAD Non-Deployment Subgrantee Selection
Iowa does not anticipate sufficient funding to support non-deployment uses and does not intend to subgrant for non-deployment activities.
BEAD Eligible Entity Implementation
Iowa does not intend to operate as the recipient without making a subgrant.
BEAD Local, Tribe, and Regional Broadband Planning Process
Tribal Consultation:
- Initiated consultations with the Meskwaki Nation and three tribes with land holdings in Iowa.
Community Education Program:
- Created “Broadband Together,” a free community education program targeted at local community leaders, county officials, economic development organizations, and others.
- The program includes eight modules designed to guide communities through the process of creating broadband projects.
Engagement Tracking:
- Tracks all citizen and provider inbound and outbound engagements (emails/phone calls) on various broadband topics.
- Since tracking began in September 2021, there have been over 1,900 engagements.
ACP Participation:
- Engaged with EducationSuperHighway to drive participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
- As of April 2023, Iowa garnered 91,382 enrollments in ACP, with 16% of eligible households enrolled.
Outreach and Media Campaign:
- Undertook a social media campaign utilizing Facebook to reach attendees for the BEAD/DEA Outreach Plan and applicants for ITQ.
- Worked with the Iowa Newspaper Association to transmit press releases.
- The Public Information Officer provides media outlets with interviews and answers questions for news stories.
Additional Activities:
- Conducting community surveys.
- Forging partnerships with local educational institutions.
- Facilitating online engagement.
- Fostering public-private partnerships.
BEAD Labor Standards & Protection
DOM-DoIt does not plan to incorporate any items into legally binding commitments for subgrantees outside of what is explicitly required in the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
BEAD Minority Business Enterprises / Women’s Business Enterprises / Labor Surplus Area Firms Inclusion
DOM-DoIt supports Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Locally Significant Firms (LSFs) by identifying resources, legal requirements, and federal funding information through the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) website. Programs include:
The Targeted Small Business (TSB) program helps women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, or service-disabled veterans overcome hurdles to start or grow a small business in Iowa. Certified TSBs can be found in the online public directory available on the IEDA website. Loan opportunities, business coaching, and tax services are available through the Iowa Center for Economic Success, and the Department of Administrative Services Central Procurement Enterprise offers procurement opportunities.
The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is a $96 million investment in Iowa’s small business development and growth.
IASourceLink provides free resources to small businesses and entrepreneurs, including resource navigators, a business license information center, a downtown resource center, and Main Street Iowa.
The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs (SBIR/STTR) award funds to stimulate high-tech development in the U.S.
Other programs offered include the Iowa Center for Economic Success’s Women’s Business Center, Iowa Federation of Business and Professional Women, Iowa Chamber Alliance, and the Iowa Small Business Development Center.
BEAD Cost & Barrier Reduction
1. Promoting the use of existing infrastructure.
2. Promoting and adapting dig-once policies.
3. Streamlining permitting processes.
4. Streamlining cost-effective access to poles, conduits, and easements.
5. Streamlining rights of way, including the imposition of reasonable access requirements.
BEAD Low-Cost Broadband Service Option
Using U.S. Census data, the lowest 20% of households in Iowa average an annual household income of $23,800. Utilizing the affordability percentage from the FCC, 2% of $23,800 equals $476 per year, or approximately $40 per month.
Roughly 45% of Iowa households, depending on their size, would qualify for ACP.
DOM-DoIt sets the following definitions for a low-cost service option:
- Costs $40 per month or less, inclusive of all taxes and fees.
- Allows end users to apply for ACP.
- Provides typical speeds of 100/20 Mbps.
- Latency measurements of 100 ms.
- Not subject to data caps or surcharges.
- If a low-cost plan with higher speeds is later offered, eligible subscribers can upgrade at no cost.
BEAD Middle-Class Affordability
DOM-DoIt has provided PEW Charitable Trust’s online tool to analyze affordability data on their website.
Calculating affordability for middle-class citizens involves assessing the cost of broadband services in relation to their household income. A basic framework includes determining monthly income, identifying basic expenses, and allocating a portion for broadband.
In DOM-DoIt’s spring 2023 outreach meetings, a regular criticism was the difficulty in applying to programs and a lack of marketing. Iowa was awarded $400,000 in the ACP Outreach Grant to address this issue.
DOM-DoIt encourages providers to:
- Offer low-cost service options to ensure that all Iowans have access to affordable broadband service.
- Use the affordability tool and offer plans at or below the level indicated for their geographical area.
- Provide outreach to subscribers to increase awareness of ACP or other applicable programs.
