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Companies get grants to expand rural broadband Internet

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says people living and working in rural Iowa will benefit from plans to expand broadband Internet service.

Branstad discussed the expansion plans Monday. Four companies will expand Internet services to nearly 90,000 Iowa locations using grant funding provided by the Federal Communication Commission's Connect America Fund.

Providing high-speed internet throughout the state has been a top priority for Branstad. The four companies receiving over $53 million in grants are CenturyLink, Windstream, Frontier and Consolidated Communications.

Company officials said the dollars would help provide service in some areas, as well as improve speeds in others.

Branstad says broadband access is a "great equalizer" for rural communities.

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