Obama to visit Cedar Falls Wednesday

CEDAR FALLS - President Barack Obama will visit Cedar Falls Wednesday.

The visit is part of a tour this week to highlight plans to protect American consumers and businesses from cyber threats and promote increasing access to high-speed broadband throughout the U.S.

Advance teams have visited Cedar Falls in preparation for the visit.

According to sources, Obama will speak at Cedar Falls Utilities at about 2 p.m. to propose plans to increase affordable access to high-speed broadband internet. Mayor Jon Crews said the visit highlights Cedar Falls Utilities' success in providing the infrastructure to make that an option for residents and businesses there.

'It's a nice recognition for the city and the utilities,” Crews said. 'The citizens voted to create that utility years ago... CFU created the infrastructure and we're not lagging behind anyone.”

Crews added the city was awarded recognition by Google as a 2014 eCity in October.

'Google beat him here by a couple months,” he joked.

'It's not very often you have this opportunity and then you get a call,” said James Krieg, general manager of Cedar Falls Utilities. 'It's been a crazy few days.”

Cedar Falls police and fire and rescue are working with U.S. Secret Service to provide security and support for the visit.

Obama's visit comes a less than a week before his State of the Union address Jan. 20. Last week, Obama proposed offering two free years of community college to all Americans.

Governor Branstad's office issued a statement about the visit saying, 'We appreciate that President Obama recognizes Governor Branstad's work to make Iowa a leader in connecting its citizens, main street businesses, schools and agriculture to high-speed broadband internet.”

Branstad's statement adds he plans to outline a plan called 'Connect Every Acre” in his State of the State address this week.