A- A+

Partnership Launches Central Iowa Broadband Internet Survey

March 24, 2021

GREATER DES MOINES, IA (March 24, 2021) – The Greater Des Moines Partnership has launched the Central Iowa Broadband Internet Survey for 11 counties in the region. The purpose of the Survey is to measure broadband internet availability and identify areas that do not currently meet consumer needs and expectations. The Survey will be open from Wednesday, March 24 – Tuesday, April 27.

Residents and businesses in the following counties are encouraged to take the survey: Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Story and Warren. The Survey is designed to gather information about consumers’ experience with broadband internet service across the region. The Survey is able to be taken in several languages. There are two separate survey links: one for residential households and one for businesses.

Increasing broadband internet connectivity is one of The Partnership’s 2021 Strategic Priorities to improve access to distance learning, telecommuting and telehealth. The Partnership’s Central Iowa Broadband Internet Survey is led by a Steering Committee that has been charged with delivering a report on broadband internet availability and proposing plans to increase broadband access.

“This is about bringing the region’s broadband picture into focus,” said Chris Costa, President & CEO of Knapp Properties, Inc. and Co-Chair of The Partnership’s Central Iowa Broadband Internet Steering Committee. “Broadband internet service is crucially important to our ability to attract and retain businesses and residents, and help existing businesses grow and be successful.”

The Broadband Internet Survey results will help identify and address current gaps in availability, speed/performance, reliability and affordability. This Survey will help policymakers and providers better understand where gaps exist, and therefore provide them with opportunities to consider additional funding mechanisms. The speed test included in the broadband survey will collect address-level performance data to bring the availability into better focus. The Survey will also seek feedback on consumers’ experience with reliability, affordability and availability. The Survey results, along with other data collected and analyzed through this process, will provide internet providers, government officials and communities with next steps for short-term and long-term funding options and solutions.

“We encourage residents and organizations in the 11-county area to help bring clarity on the level of broadband service that exists,” said Tej Dhawan, Chief Data Officer at Principal Financial Group® and Co-Chair of The Partnership’s Central Iowa Broadband Internet Steering Committee. “This will help open up more access to funding programs that are critical to attract investment from private or public providers.”

Funding from the following public and private partners has made the Broadband Internet Survey possible: Adair County, Dallas County, Guthrie County, Jasper County, the Madison County Development Group, Marion County, the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Polk County, Poweshiek Iowa Development, Story County, Warren County, Alliant Energy, the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Pella Rural Electric Cooperative and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

Access the surveys on The Partnership’s website.

The Steering Committee is made up of the following regional and industry leaders:

  • Chris Costa, Co-Chair, Knapp Properties, Inc.
  • Tej Dhawan, Co-Chair, Principal Financial Group®
  • Todd Ashby, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Jerry Beyer, Vermeer Corporation
  • Todd Chapman, Central Iowa Satellite
  • Jeff Davidson, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation
  • Deidre DeJear, Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families
  • Mike Dickson, Guthrie County Supervisor
  • Carla Eysink, Marion County Development Commission
  • Rachel Gocken, Warren County Economic Development Corporation
  • Leanne Harter, Story County
  • Scott Johnson, Aureon
  • Michael Kacmarynski, Precision Pulley & Idler
  • Rachel Kinnick, Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Tony Kioko, Principal Financial Group®
  • Barb Kniff-McCulla, KLK Construction
  • Tom Leners, Madison County Development Group
  • Jamie Letzring, City of West Des Moines
  • Katie Lord, MidAmerican Energy Company
  • Deb Lucht, Minburn Communications
  • John Norris, Polk County
  • Tanya Michener, Newton Development Corporation
  • Linda Murken, Story County Supervisor
  • Nancy Mwirotsi, Pi515
  • Bryan Nelson, OmniTel
  • Andrew Potter, Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Scott Sanders, City of Des Moines
  • Amelia Schoeneman, Story County
  • Barry Smith, Knoxville Community School District
  • Nick Sorensen, Ames Chamber of Commerce
  • Antionette Stevens, Cisco Meraki
  • David Stone, United Way of Central Iowa
  • Scott Tonderum, Greenfield Municipal Utilities
  • Jerry Walker, Adair County Supervisor
  • Dan Warren, Des Moines Public Schools

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership?

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The?Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.