Iowa: Rural broadband, and the unknown costs of the digital divide

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According to US News and World Report, Iowa is the most connected state in the nation, which presumably means they have a high percentage of households with access to high-speed internet. But the data used for that analysis is deeply flawed. It is easy to find yourself completely unconnected from the wires and signals that pull us all together through our computers and mobile devices. Reports of IA’s connectivity are greatly exaggerated, according to Ashley Hitt, director of GIS Services for the broadband advocacy nonprofit Connected Nation. The Federal Communications Commission estimates based on census blocks are inaccurate. Hitt also points out that many providers, large and small, often overestimate their connectivity because they simply lack accurate, independently verified maps. Connect Nation CEO Tom Ferree says right now, "America is living with a caste system of digital inequality. And with the advent of 5G internet, the digital divide will only deepen if Iowa can’t catch up.”


Iowa: Rural broadband, and the unknown costs of the digital divide