(Elk Horn) This past week, The State of Iowa as part of the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband grant initiative awarded the Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company $4.5 Million to Expand Fiber Internet Network in Western Iowa.
“This is tremendous news for customers who live in the region where our awarded project will take place, as well as for us as a company,” said Rachel Hamilton, CEO of Marne Elk Horn. “Our initial application was for specific rural areas in close proximity to our existing service areas, but we won’t know for a few weeks the exact areas we were awarded, and therefore how or when we will proceed. That fact does not diminish our excitement on behalf of the new customers who may be getting fiber Internet.”
Hamilton continued, “We applaud the State of Iowa for having the foresight to put this program in place and for understanding that these hard-to-reach areas required additional funding to be built. Additionally, we are ecstatic to see the $97.5 million awarded to locally owned and operated broadband companies like us throughout Iowa. It’s good to see that the long history of serving rural communities well is being recognized and rewarded.”
Of the 39 awards announced last Tuesday, over 70% of them were awarded to local, independent communications providers like Marne Elk Horn – most of whom have been serving rural Iowa customers for more than 100 years.
“Choosing fiber projects and not other technologies, shows that state leaders recognize that buried fiber is the way forward to connect underserved customers with broadband. It takes time and money to build fiber networks, but fiber is the network that will deliver quality, ultra-fast Internet service well into the future” stated Hamilton.
Broadband (fiber internet) is as important as electricity was in the 1930s. The disparity of available high speed internet offerings across the State has left many rural residents and businesses unable to use many of the great applications which others take for granted. This fact was exacerbated by the pandemic with consumers having to work from home as well as participate in online school from home. Hamilton said that Marne Elk Horn is excited to start bridging that gap with these awarded funds, and admits without this type of funding it would be a tough business case to build fiber out to these rural neighborhoods.
“We are eagerly awaiting the next step from the state. Only then will our board of directors be able to ensure the geographic of the grant being offered are cohesive for expansion from our current areas,” said Hamilton. “Underserved customers in these areas are certain to be very excited about the possibilities – and our board of directors and staff are just as excited. We look forward to getting all the details so we can make some concrete decisions.”
“Our industry has not escaped the woes of supply chain issues. Finding the materials and equipment we need along with qualified contractors to help with the installation will take some time. But should the project proceed, we are up for the task because these prospective customers deserve great Internet too…and we can’t wait to bring it to them,” concluded Hamilton.
