Rexburg To Improve Infrastructure

The United States may be a super power but its Internet capability ranks far below more than a dozen other countries.

Multiple studies suggest Idaho comes in dead last for Internet speed in the U.S.

Far below average, the city of Rexburg is looking to improve the local infrastructure.

It’s all in an effort to bring more businesses to Rexburg, but it’s not just Internet the city needs to improve but all of its utilities.

With BYU Idaho, Rexburg’s economic developer Scott Johnson said the city has the educated workforce companies need but it still lacks the infrastructure to attract them to the upper valley.

“We have a lot of technology companies who would and should be here but if they had the correct infrastructure that they needed,” Johnson said.

It’s not just new business but the city needs to sustain the ones it already has.

“We have businesses who have come to us and expressed concern that they would like to see better speed,? Johnson said. ?We do have businesses who are looking to expand who are here who need infrastructure. Some of that is gas, some of that is broadband among other things, so we are working on all of those issues.”

An improved natural gas line is also needed in the Upper Valley.

In 2013 Intermountain Gas will build another line around Idaho Falls to increase capacity in the Upper Valley.

While the project has been planned for years, with Rexburg’s steady growth rate Intermountain Gas is fast tracking the project.

Johnson said it’s all in an effort for the city to keep up with the growth of the university.

“As they continue to grow, we need to grow both in infrastructure and in jobs and in other things in order to be able to provide for that growth,? Johnson said.

The city hopes to use recent grant money received to study the most effective way to increase the city’s broadband capability whether through private or public means.

Idaho, Wyoming and Montana are also at the bottom of the list when it comes to Internet speeds.