GET ME REWRITE: Lack of rural broadband a factor in Iowa caucuses meltdown

Photo credit:  Etsy

Reported in Iowa caucus 2020: Inside the Iowa Democratic Party's 'boiler room,' where 'hell' preceded the results catastrophe.   (Des Moines Register, 2/8/2020)

Iowa has 99 counties, most of which are rural.  Most of these rural counties experienced their  peak population 100 or more years ago.

Related reading:
Much of rural Iowa faces bumpy ride to broadband accessibility.  (Sioux City Journal, 10/14/2019)

Far from 'first in the nation' as far as broadband access is concerned.  Former Gov. Terry Branstad — who likened the broadband expansion to efforts last century to bring electricity to rural Iowa — set a goal of connecting every Iowan, which was later modified to connecting every acre. But six years later, the state appears not close to achieving that standard. 

The latest information from BroadbandNow, an organization that collects and analyzes internet provider coverage and availability, ranks Iowa as the 33rd most-connected state in the nation, at a time when elected officials and industry leaders are focused on spurring development to keep residents and jobs in rural towns.  [emphasis added]

What the Iowa caucus means for getting Iowa Online:  Both parties want to bring broadband to rural America. Why hasn’t it happened?  (The Verge, 2/3/2020)

If you need to get online in Winterset, Iowa (population 5,200 located in Madison County), you head to the library. Free Wi-Fi has been in place for a while, but starting this week, the library is lending out ten Sprint mobile hotspots in hardshell cases, prepped for students and residents who can’t count on connectivity otherwise.

Other Iowa caucus posts:
From first to worst: Iowa caucuses are the tail that wags the dog.  (2/7/2020)
We don't have a decisive winner in the Iowa caucuses, but Joe Biden is the clear loser.  (2/7/2020)
What 'earnest participation in democracy'?  (2/6/2020)
Dear Troy Price, Does not compute. Best, Retiring Guy.  (2/5/2020)
The big waste of money otherwise known as ad buying for the 2020 Iowa caucuses. (2/5/2020)
With the Iowa caucuses, the prognostication and handwringing occur early and often.  (2/4/2020)
The first to worst in the nation Iowa caucuses.  (2/4/2020)
Remember. Rick Santorum won the Iowa caucus in 2012.  (2/3/2020)