Connecting rural Iowa to high-speed, affordable broadband [Video]

Randy Feenstra

In the 21st century, access to high-speed, affordable internet is critical to the success of our rural communities and our long-term economic vitality.

Reliable broadband connection ensures that our families can work from home, our farmers can effortlessly monitor commodity prices online, and our main street businesses can utilize the technology they need to serve their customers and make a living. To promote economic development and grow our rural communities, dependable internet connection is a must.

However, we have serious work ahead to connect more Iowans to the internet. According to data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Iowa ranks 45th in the nation for internet connectivity, and only 18.5% of Iowans have access to low-cost broadband. These figures are concerning, and quite frankly, unacceptable.

Born and raised in rural Iowa, I know that too many families and communities lack access to high-speed broadband, which is an absolute necessity in …