Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad is disappointed with the...
Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad is disappointed with the Legislature’s failure to pass Iowa House File 2472 (http://bit.ly/1flQXo6), which would have provided incentives to expand broadband in the state’s underserved areas, before adjourning for the year Wednesday. “We launched the…
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‘Connect Every Iowan’ initiative to increase access, adoption and use of broadband technology in Iowa,” Branstad said in a written statement Thursday (http://bit.ly/1rIZ8Lf). “Technology is the great equalizer and we know for Iowa to continue to grow and prosper, we must have quality broadband technology all across Iowa. ... We plan to continue working to bring high-speed Internet access to all corners of the state, not just to population and industrial centers.” The House Republican majority “failed to pass the Governor’s broadband bill, one of his top priorities this year,” countered House Democratic Leader Mark Smith. Republican supporters of the bill couldn’t pull enough Democrats to pass it, because “House Democrats firmly believe the bill does not go far enough in expanding broadband access to more homes and small businesses,” Smith said. The Connect Every Iowan Act (CD April 29 p13) would have exempted broadband equipment and infrastructure installed or constructed in unserved or underserved areas from property taxes until Dec. 31, 2018.