Newstrack: Study pinpoints areas lacking broadband in Johnson County

In February 2022, Johnson County partnered with HR Green of Cedar Rapids to study internet access and quality in the county’s small cities and rural areas.

The county used $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to study broadband needs, with another $7,000 coming from county funds.

What’s happened since

The study, which concluded in March, found that more than half of Johnson County’s 152,854 residents have access to fiber-optic cable and high-speed internet, according to Josh Busard, Johnson County planning and development director.

But some areas lack access to broadband service. Those areas are mainly in the southern part of the county, around Lone Tree and Hills, and in the eastern part of the county between Iowa City and West Branch.

Ken Demlow, the planning services group manager at HR Green and lead on this study, said people living in some of those areas have to rely on cellphones and hot spots for internet access.

About 14 percent of Johnson County residents — or 21,884 people — live in unincorporated (rural) areas.

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Busard said the county is working with internet providers to find funding and bring broadband to all of the county.

“So whether you live in Iowa City, or you live down south or up on the Linn-Johnson County Road, the goal is you have all the same opportunities when it comes to broadband,” he said.

Three areas of Johnson County earned a broadband innovation zone designation from the Iowa Office of Chief Information Officer, meaning they quality for additional state and federal grants.

Two of the three areas are among the top 10 out of 99 applications in the state. The rankings prioritize areas for grants.

Two of Johnson County’s areas ranked in the top 10, out of 99 applications, for grants.

The area between Iowa City and West Branch ranked fifth; Kansas Avenue southwest of Iowa City ranked 10th; and the area around Hills and Lone Tree ranked 82nd.

A week ago, the state announced $150 million is now available for entities wishing to apply for Empower Rural Iowa Broadband grants.

Gov. Kim Reynolds last week announced another $150 million in broadband funding. To date, the state has awarded more than $350 million in state and federal funding to bring broadband to Iowa areas lacking such access.

Information on the grants can be found at https://ocio.iowa.gov/broadband-grants

Comments: 319-368-8877; liam.halawith@thegazette.com