Mediacom got together some of its friends at Pillar Technologies’ “Forge” in downtown Des Moines Tuesday night to discuss how high-speed broadband helps businesses of all sizes in this day of 1 gigabit per second service. 

Linc Kroeger, vanguard of Future Ready Iowa at Pillar, said he wants to revitalize rural Iowa through tech. That’s why Pillar opened its first Forge in rural Iowa in Jefferson last month. “This is an agricultural state that is going to be a tech state,” he added. 

Future Ready Iowa is a state effort to increase education and training in Iowa’s workforce. 

Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, said Iowa’s business success, which she attributed in part to Mediacom’s ramp-up of broadband speeds, came as U.S. News & World Report perched Iowa on top of its latest “Best States” list, noting the state’s strong broadband service as one key factor. Gov. Kim Reynolds and many other leaders are pushing to expand that service into more of the state. Mediacom provides cable internet service to 21 states, including most of Iowa. 

“When you think about it, we can run the world from Iowa,” Durham said. “We are connected to the world.”

Which is good, Durham said, because 95 percent of the consumers of U.S. products are outside this country. 

She noted that the tech explosion on the prairie includes advances in precision agriculture. “Our farmers are some of the most innovative individuals in our culture,” she said. “What is the next big frontier? Iowa should own the precision ag space.  

“Iowa is going to see its greatest days ahead,” Durham added. “I see prosperity.”

Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, noted the development in the area, which has brought national attention. Fiber has been a key factor as the likes of Microsoft, Apple and Facebook launched big projects here, he said.

“Businesses require high-speed, reliable broadband,” Byers added.