DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New data shows more people in Iowa are connected to faster broadband speeds.

Connect Iowa released figures Tuesday that show nearly 96 percent of state residents have access to faster broadband speeds. That means fixed broadband speeds of 3 megabits per second or higher.

The nonprofit group says that's a jump from about 93 percent they reported six months ago.

Connect Iowa's research was conducted as part of a state grant program aimed at increasing broadband Internet throughout rural Iowa.