The Johnson County Economic Development Plan for the Unincorporated Areas and Smaller Towns includes two goals related to broadband:
1. Inventory broadband capabilities and assess various strategies to improve broadband
connectivity.
2. Invest to fill in gaps that currently prevent access to high-speed broadband.
In progress and completed efforts related to the goals are listed below.
In Progress
PDS staff continue to monitor the status of the grant opportunity for broadband expansion and the proposed Digital Equity Plan.
Completed Efforts and Updates
PROVIDERS AWARDED GRANTS TO EXPAND BROADBAND IN JOHNSON COUNTY PRIORITY AREAS
In November 2023, two area providers successfully earned competitive funds for expansion projects to unserved or underserved areas, including those in the Broadband Intervention Zones designated earlier in 2023. Sharon TelCo and Liberty TelCo won the competitive grants through the State Office of the Chief Information Office.
Sharon TelCo received $1.8 million for a rural area near Kansas Avenue to the southwest of Iowa City and areas between Hills and Lone Tree. Liberty TelCo was awarded nearly $2 million for expansion in the rural area between Iowa City and West Branch.
The companies will start the projects in 2024 to bring the opportunity of high-speed fiber internet to nearly 200 households.
Representatives with Sharon TelCo also shared an update on their projects at the Board of Supervisors work session on Dec. 13, 2023. The recording is available here (starts at approximately the 4 min 45 second mark) and PDF of the presentation and supporting documents are available here.
FEDERAL PROGRAM OFFICER PRESENTS BROADBAND REPORT TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
In October 2023, Chris Hall, Iowa's federal program officer from the US Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, updated the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on current and potential federal funding opportunities for expanding broadband infrastructure.
The recording of the presentation is available here, and PDF of the presentation is available beginning on p. 5 here. In addition, here is the current broadband profile for the County presented by Mr. Hall.
COUNTY EARNS THREE BROADBAND INTERVENTION ZONE DESIGNATIONS
Three areas in Johnson County earned Broadband Intervention Zone status in May 2023
In April 2023, Johnson County applied for three areas to be designated as Broadband Intervention Zones by the state of Iowa. The designation makes it more likely that area broadband providers can receive competitive funds for expansion projects to unserved or underserved areas.
Of 99 applications the state received, two of the county's three applications were ranked in the top ten:
- 5th: zone between IC and West Branch (JC #3)
- 10th: Kansas Ave southwest of IC (JC #1)
- 82nd: Rural areas around Hills and Lone Tree (JC #2) (area dimension was modified by OCIO)
The complete list is posted at https://ocio.iowa.gov/invitation-qualify-001
COUNTY STAFF ATTENDED INPUT SESSION ON DIGITAL EQUITY
The Planning, Development and Sustainability director and the sustainability coordinator each attended a public input session held in spring 2023 by the state's Department of Management to create the Digital Equity Plan to augment efforts to provide physical access to broadband infrastructure. Digital equity also includes affordability of broadband services, education on how to use the Internet and devices, and ability to obtain devices for use.
The state shared its draft Digital Equity Plan in January 2024 at https://ocio.iowa.gov/broadband/digital-equity
INVENTORY AND NEEDS STUDY COMPLETED
From Feb 2022 to March 2023, Johnson County engaged HR Green to conduct a broadband study focused on the unincorporated areas and smaller towns within the county. Area internet providers, social service and educational institutions, businesses, cities and other stakeholders participated in input sessions. The study identified location gaps in Internet and related connectivity and provided recommendations for County's next steps to take to improve connectivity.