Statewide Iowa (Radio Iowa) — Iowa State Senators, including a Republican from Hull, have backed away from a proposal to sell the state-owned fiber optics network. Instead, the senate voted for an audit of the Iowa Communications Network, to see what parts COULD be sold.
Senator Randy Feenstra of Hull says he initially thought selling the network was the right move.
Legislators have talked about getting the state out of the telecommunications business ever since the Iowa Communications Network was created 30-years ago. However, a recent state audit revealed the network’s now-fired manager hired unqualified cronies and gave them huge raises. He also went on a vacation to Belize at state expense and intended to sell state-owned equipment on Ebay. That has prompted renewed discussion among legislators about the ICN’s future.
The bill to audit the ICN passed unanimously, but not before Democrats objected to having State Auditor Mary Mosiman involved in the evaluation. Mosiman was a non-voting member of the network’s board and admits she and the rest of the board had trusted the now-fired manager. Republicans like Feenstra say it was Mosiman’s office that identified the $380-thousand worth of misspending after a tip from whistleblowers in the agency.
The bill also calls for hiring a private firm to appraise the assets of the Iowa Communications Network.
