Part of the last few weeks of the Iowa legislative session is deciding on what public policies are allowed by lawmakers.

We’ve previously reported that District 47 Representative Chip Baltimore has been working on the Standings Appropriations Bill which takes all those last-minute policies that didn’t pass through the session and sort them out.  Baltimore points out one accomplishment from his work on the bill was about broadband expansion in the state.  He says connecting all Iowa communities with broadband access, will keep communities in sync with modern technology.

“Technology is becoming so much more important in our rural areas and in our agricultural communities that we need to be able to have high-speed internet and cell service in every inch of Iowa.”

Baltimore adds that the broadband initiative also has some provisions for establishing new cell towers, which Jefferson has done a good job of catering to the community.

“For communities like Jefferson and Greene County, primarily rural in nature, you’ve got an existing telecom company there that does a great job of providing services.”

He doesn’t believe that Governor Terry Branstad will sign the bill going forward.