Central Iowa Broadband Survey: The Rural Broadband Experience
For residents looking to learn more about the Central Iowa Broadband Survey, four virtual forums allow participants to hear directly from residents on how broadband has impacted their lives. During the first session, “The Rural Broadband Experience,” panelists included the following:
The group focused on challenges of rural Greater Des Moines (DSM) and what can be done to improve the rural broadband experience.
Gaps in Connectivity
The Central Iowa Broadband Survey seeks to find out what sort of gaps residents are grappling with in DSM, zeroing in on these questions:
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Is there broadband internet available?
- Is it affordable?
- Is it reliable?
- Is the service fast enough for your home and/or business?
Menner shared that the issue of access to reliable broadband isn’t a rural versus urban issue, but that extending the infrastructure down gravel roads in rural areas is a challenge. The cost of building out and extending infrastructure is high, but without rural broadband, remote work and learning, telehealth and streaming ability can be frustrating for residents and workers in the area. While most people have access, the question now is do they have enough access to do what they need to do. Bauer discussed what broadband means to farming operations, including data collection and GPS-based communication.
Watch the full webinar below:
Other Central Iowa Broadband Survey events held include "The Challenges of Learning from Home," “Telehealth in Central Iowa” and “Remote Work Challenges and Opportunities.” For more information on these broadband forums and to take the residential and/or business survey, visit DSMpartnership.com.
Greater Des Moines (DSM) has one of the best business climates in the country. The region is nationally recognized for having a talented and educated workforce, a cost of doing business 13% below the national average, a low cost of living and an exceptional quality of life.