A Greene County resident recently made a trip to Washington DC to discuss with legislators issues that were important to an organization.

Jefferson Telecom General Manager and CEO Jamie Daubendiek went with about 20 other general managers with the Iowa Communications Alliance, of which Daubendiek is the board president of, as they talked with the entire Iowa delegation in the House and Senate about telecom issues and regulations, while also promoting broadband and getting all Iowans connected. 

Daubendiek also points out they asked the lawmakers to re-authorize the Affordable Connectivity Program that was a $30 credit that customers got on their bills, but it recently expired. He told them about the success with a state grant that was federally funded to allow Jefferson Telecom to provide broadband to more people in eastern Greene County that will take place this year and into next year. 

Daubendiek describes his impression he got from the two Republican Senators and four Republican House members from Iowa after their one day visit.

“It was great to actually meet people in person too. Their staff was great. You work a lot with their staffers on, you know, providing information and getting feedback from them on kind of what we’re doing. But the whole DC trip was great.” 

Even though he is the board president of the Iowa Communications Alliance, Daubendiek was thankful for the other members of the organization that went to observe their interactions and learn how politics are done at the federal level to try and move the needle in their direction for their goals with the legislature.