DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Terry Branstad is seeking revised broadband legislation nearly five months after a majority of Democrats and some Republicans in the Iowa House voted against his proposal to expand Internet services to rural Iowans.

“Rather than coming together to pass common-sense legislation to increase broadband access in rural Iowa, Iowa House Democrats have turned their backs on rural Iowans and those who are underserved,” Branstad said April 28, after 42 Democrats and nine Republicans voted against the measure.

“Today, the Iowa House Democrats played the worst of political cards: The Washington, D.C., hand of ignoring what is in the best interest of the taxpayers for political purposes,” he added.

But state Rep. Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) claimed he and his party members didn’t vote to approve the bill because they thought it wasn’t strong enough to drive “meaningful broadband expansion.

“We did not feel that this was a good enough bill,” Smith told the Des Moines Register, adding it was their responsibility “to vote for what we think is best for the people of our districts, and that’s what we did today.”

During his Jan. 14 “Condition of the State” address, Branstad made his proposal a key initiative, citing the Connect Every Iowan Act (House File 2472) passed on April 15, which he said contained a “targeted, time-limited and geographically-limited tax incentive to encourage build-out of ultra high-speed Internet capabilities.

“Broadband equipment and infrastructure installed or constructed in unserved or underserved areas between the act’s effective date and December 31, 2018, would be exempt from property tax under the bill,” Branstad said.

On Sept. 3, he and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds unveiled Connect Every Iowan, with the goal of positioning Iowa as the top broadband-connected Midwest state “ready to support new businesses, while providing the highest-quality education and healthcare services available.”

“Broadband is the electricity of the future and it’s going to be critically important to economic progress,” Branstad said. “Broadband is also almost certainly the way education of the future is going to be delivered, and we want to make sure that Iowa is on the cutting edge of this very important technology and that we don’t have anyone left out.”

In addition, he asked the existing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Advisory Council’s Broadband Committee to complete his plan’s implementation by Jan. 1, 2015.

“The expansion of Iowa’s broadband network will be achieved through public-private partnerships,” said Reynolds. “Part of a successful task force is making sure all stakeholders are at the table as we walk through what we need to do to implement changes.

“All stakeholders will have a seat at the table on this task force, so they will have the opportunity to sit down and discuss how we provide and expand broadband access throughout the state of Iowa in a way that benefits everyone. Governor Branstad’s vision for connecting every Iowan will be crucial to ensuring the global competitiveness of Iowa communities and citizens alike.”

According to Connect Iowa data released April 16, broadband adoption in Iowa surpassed the national average, with 76 percent of households subscribing to the service in 2013, up from 66 percent in 2010.

“I’m encouraged by the progress we’re making in Iowa, but we’re not done yet,” Branstad said. “Through the Connect Every Iowan Act, we will continue to promote access, adoption and use of broadband technology throughout our state.”

In a recent Connected Nation report on “broadband readiness,” 85 Iowa counties received a grade of “C” or below, with Connect Iowa research indicating 29 percent of Iowa residents and 22,000 businesses still don’t subscribe to broadband.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Connected Nation estimated a 1 percentage point broadband adoption increase could result in more than 26,000 jobs created or saved in Iowa, and a boost to the state economy, totaling approximately $1.2 billion annually.

On Aug. 5, Reynolds and Connect Iowa officials recognized the city of Creston as the fifth community to become a Certified Connected Community in the state, and the 21st in the nation.

“I’m confident that the community will use this designation to increase the robust economic development efforts in Creston and across Union County,” she said.

The Broadband Committee held its first meeting Sept. 10, with its recommendations due back to Branstad by Dec. 1. “This is an initiative that requires the collaboration and resources of both public and private entities,” said Amy Kuhlers, Connect Iowa state program manager.

“We are counting on not only on the industry to drive the future of the broadband network, but also the beneficiaries, including education, health care, ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) and other sectors, to step up and help us make Iowa the most connected state in the Midwest.”