Lawmakers Broadband Is A Must For Today’s Farmer

It’s not a luxury, but a necessity.

That was the message Ag lawmakers and witnesses told a recent Congressional hearing on rural broadband expansion.  The need to expand rural broadband service is unique is Washington D.C. as one of the few topics that has a great deal of bipartisan support.  House Ag Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit Chair David Scott.

"Farmers continue to use broadband to expand their toolbox and knowledge base to make the most of their precision agricultural applications."

But, more than a quarter of rural Americans lack access to broadband, compared with less than 2% of urban Americans.  Which is why former Ag Chair Mike Conaway said rural broadband was included in last year’s Farm Bill.

“We not only provided a new grant program to build broadband where it is needed, but also, new requirements to build what is needed for the long-haul.  The forward looking standards that we passed, will make sure that new broadband projects provide high quality internet service, for long into the future.  Because of the 2018 farm bill, USDA has the ability to better target its limited resources to the limited communities most in need.”

But, Conway says, until the Federal Communications Commission comes up with more accurate broadband maps, spending decisions may come up short in many rural areas.

The FCC says it plans on releasing an order soon to require increased reporting to improve the current broadband map system.  The American Farm Bureau Federation has come out in support of legislation to boost broadband map accuracy.

A new AFBF study shows that widespread broadband service could boost the Ag economy by more than $64 billion.  That, by boosting farm equipment connectivity to optimize application rates for seed, fertilizer and water and improving livestock care.

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