DES MOINES — The path to passing Gov. Terry Branstad’s highly promoted broadband legislation took an unexpected turn Thursday when a Senate economic growth subcommittee declined to advance it and instead approved a different bill aimed at expanding high-speed Internet in Iowa.
Members of the panel agreed to forgo discussion of Branstad’s bill altogether and instead work off one sponsored by Democratic Sen. Steven Sodders of State Center. That bill was then approved.
The measures are similar, though Sodders said his legislation focuses more heavily on building a fiber-optic network instead of other available platforms for broadband. Experts say that system of underground cables can meet increased future Internet speeds in addition to current needs.
“To get people high-speed access it’s fiber,” said Sodders, who is vice chair of the full Senate economic growth committee. “It’s not satellite dishes, it’s not wireless towers. It’s fiber.”
Sodders said his bill incorporates aspects of Branstad’s legislation, though it has no grant program to assist service providers with the often expensive process of expanding broadband. It does expand a property tax relief program from three years to five years, though it removes a retroactive component.
Sodders’ bill now heads to the full Senate economic growth committee for consideration.
Sodders said he expects to move it out of committee before the end of next week, when there is a procedural deadline for bills to advance this session.
He said he plans to meet with House leaders to ensure there is cohesive legislation.
Rep. Peter Cownie, chairman of the House commerce committee, said he needs to talk to Sodders to get a better sense of the changes in the Senate. Branstad’s bill remains as it was originally introduced in the House, but Cownie is considering changes to it.
Cownie, a Republican from West Des Moines, said he is considering changing a grant program touted by Branstad in the annual Condition of the State address. The program has $5 million appropriated to it for its first year, but lawmakers from both parties have questioned its long-term sustainability because part of the money won’t be available the following fiscal year.
Branstad’s legislation and Sodders’ bill both give the state’s chief information officer, Robert von Wolffradt, more control to oversee broadband expansion in the state. Von Wolffradt said after the Senate subcommittee meeting that he hopes the grant program will remain, even if it has a small appropriation.
“The important part of the grant is it puts the state in the middle of producing a result,” he said. “They have skin in the game, they’re part of the process and I think that’s what will help move broadband forward.”
Cownie said he is also interested in expanding a property tax relief program beyond Sodders’ recommendation of five years. He said he remains hopeful the issue will move forward in both the House and Senate.
“I think everyone wants to get something done,” he said of leaders in both chambers. “I try to temper expectations. My goal, as I’ve said publicly, is there’s no silver bullet to this thing. I just want to get it started.”