“Connect Every Acre” Debated in Iowa

Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, has introduced a proposal entitled “Connect Every Acre,” in order to bring mobile broadband access to many rural areas of the state. However, this proposal and a similar bill are being debated by state senators. Senator Steve Sodders introduced a bill that focuses on getting fiber connectivity to every home where it’s possible; whereas the Governor’s bill is thought to include incentives for companies to build more cell towers throughout the state. The towers will not only benefit cell phone users, but also farmers who will be able to access information from their machinery wirelessly. The Senate bill won’t include tax incentives for these companies, as a similar bill faced pushback from senators last year. The two bills will continued to be tweaked until both Democrats and Republicans can agree on legislation that will bring better wireless connectivity to rural Iowa.