Missouri Ag Dir: Administration Is Working To Improve Broadband Access

Farmers and ranchers need quality connections to broadband internet, but those connections can be hard to find in the countryside.  While more needs to be done, Missouri Agriculture Director Chris Chinn, said the Trump administration is working to improve broadband access in rural areas nationwide.  Chinn met with President Trump recently and said the administration is working on making broadband more affordable.

“This administration has really brought light to one of the biggest challenges we face in rural America today.  And that is access to high speed broadband that’s affordable.  If it’s there, it’s out of reach for families to be able to afford it to bring it home to that family farm.”

Chinn said cellphone coverage, which requires broadband access, is lacking in rural America as well.

“Even having the access to a cell phone that works on every part of your farm is a challenge.  So much information is out there for farmers today, manuals for equipment, repair parts, everything is out on the web.  But if you can’t access it to get that information, it make your job that much harder.”

Chinn said connecting rural America to the internet remains a priority for her, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Administration.

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