Under the Golden Dome, Too

High-speed Internet a must for rural economic expansion
     It’s hard to believe, but July is now over. With the help of some great weather, I have recently enjoyed spending more time outside gardening and playing with my grandchildren. Parade season is well underway and I’ve enjoyed seeing many familiar faces these last few weeks.
     It is a privilege to represent so many great communities in north central Iowa and I often think about what can be done to help these communities thrive. That has always been a way for me to focus my energy in the Legislature.
     I believe we can address so many issues in our communities if we work to make them better places to live and better places for businesses to create jobs.
     Reliable high-speed Internet access is one of the things that can impact both quality of life and job creation. Sadly, rural areas of our state still lag in this type of infrastructure.
     I am optimistic that two new initiatives passed into law this year will help by increasing access and introducing more competition. First, there is a new 10-year property tax exemption on high-speed Internet infrastructure in underserved areas. Second, the state has streamlined the process for the placement of cell towers which will carry high-speed wireless networks.
     By incentivizing investment in infrastructure, I hope we can impact the decision of providers to build that last mile of line to small towns and farmhouses across the state. By removing barriers to wireless network expansion, I am confident many will have an entirely new way to get high-speed connectivity and we will see more competition in the market.
     Our rural areas need access to high-speed Internet just as much as they do in cities. Today’s farmers rely on technology for sophisticated equipment in the field to monitor markets and much more. Families want access for a myriad of entertainment options, shopping and connecting in new ways with family and friends.
     Many businesses view high-speed Internet access as a necessity – they won’t locate or expand in areas without it. Perhaps the biggest impact is for small businesses and entrepreneurs who can operate a digital storefront and market themselves around the world with nothing more than a fast Internet connection.
     Thankfully, we have many good providers that are building networks out to the less populated areas of our state. By providing a modest set of incentives and removing barriers to infrastructure installation, I hope that we are effective in accelerating the pace with which new connections are created in the areas of our state that need them most.
     If you have any questions or comments, you can reach me at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-4618.