(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously passed a bill that establishes the guidelines for state grants to companies that extend broadband to areas of Iowa that lack adequate service. Representative Ray Sorensen is a Republican from Greenfield.

The bill specifies that most grants should go to companies that install broadband capable of download and upload speeds of at least 100 megabits per second. However, some grants could be used for lower speed broadband in rural areas. Sorensen says connectivity is crucial wherever you live.

Representative Dave Williams, a Democrat, is from Cedar Falls where there’s a municipal broadband utility — and Williams just had his broadband speed at home upgraded to 250 megabits per second.

The bill does not appropriate money for the grants. That spending decision will be made later according to legislative leaders. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says it will be a significant amount. House Speaker Pat Grassley says it’s likely to be around 100 million dollars. Governor Kim Reynolds asked lawmakers for 150 million in each of the next three years.