LOCAL
BROADBAND ACCESS: UNITING IOWA’S URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES Examining the state’s actions toward strengthening access to the internet for all Iowans. WORDS AND ART BY ETHAN WILLIAMS
W
hen life became virtual for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, access to high speed internet became a necessity. Attending a doctor’s appointment, going to school, and transferring money into your bank account had little to nothing in common before 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic caused simple daily tasks to become completely virtual for Iowans across the state. This shift to a more virtual lifestyle emphasized the lack of quality broadband in the state and exposed Iowa’s inability to keep up in the digital age.
What is Broadband, Anyway?
Broadband is the transmission of bandwidth data over a high speed internet connection, while bandwidth is the amount
of data that can be transmitted over the internet. The higher the bandwidth capability, the faster internet speeds are. Ensuring that both bandwidth and broadband stay up to date is crucial for Iowa’s economy to remain sustainable for the next generation. Currently, broadband access across the state of Iowa is primarily concentrated in developed, wealthy neighborhoods, while broadband deserts are common in both rural and low-income urban communities throughout the state. In Iowa, about one-third of all 99 counties are considered broadband deserts, meaning they do not have high speed internet. Those most affected by the minimal investment in Iowa’s broadband are in low-income urban areas and rural areas across the state. This is a problem for farmers and small businesses
owners trying to operate using the internet. Without strong broadband, Iowa farmers cannot use e-agriculture to innovate within the growing, harvesting, and distribution processes, a practice that saves time and money. Iowa’s small businesses have similar problems with inefficient connectivity to broadband. Access to quality broadband determines how local small businesses are able to communicate and sell domestically and internationally. These examples demonstrate that the issue of broadband access transcends politics. It benefits all Iowans, not just a select few. Iowa is not the only state in the U.S. to make broadband access a pressing issue. In 2021, 35 states passed broadband legislation during their legislative sessions. This DRAKE POLITICAL REVIEW
|7
