Program pushes for more high-speed Internet access in Winneshiek County and throughout Iowa

Map of Internet access in Winneshiek County, with unserved areas in yellow

As Winneshiek County and the City of Decorah, among others, push for completion of the Metronet system, a statewide group is working with state legislators to persuade them of the importance of high-speed Internet access throughout all of Iowa.

Connect Iowa officials spoke recently at the "Grow Iowa Day" at the state capitol. Connect Iowa Program Manager Amy Kuhlers says high-speed Internet is the key to the future.

Also on hand were economic development professionals from across the state.

On Monday Winneshiek County's Information Technology Director, Jon Lubke, told supervisors there are still a number of areas of Winneshiek County that have no Internet service, while other areas are served by slower dial-up service.

Lubke distributed a copy of the Internet access map for Winneshiek County that Connect Iowa had developed.

Metronet officials have had general discussions about the need to extend the fiber optic cable network outside of the Decorah area to connect with other schools and governments throughout the county.  The Metronet board has also discussed the possibility of commercial businesses being able to connect to the Metronet at a later date.