connectivity

A new report from the Government Accountability Office is encouraging the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate benchmark broadband speeds. The report states, “We recommended that the FCC determine whether its current definition of broadband really meets the needs of small businesses.” ...

Last week, House lawmakers introduced the Broadband for Rural America Act. The legislation would put the Department of Agriculture in the driver’s seat for rural broadband rather than the Federal Communications Commission. Georgia Republican Representative Austin Scott mentioned last week, "The FCC’s had their chance, and they haven’t gotten it done.” The bill is ...

A new app called, "Tested", will help crowd-source information on broadband accessibility from around the country, especially in rural areas.  The only catch is, how can you use the app to check on connectivity if you don't have connectivity?  ...

The Agricultural Broadband Coalition welcomes the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act included in the 2018 Farm Bill.  Coalition co-Chair Nick Tindall said, “U.S. farmers and ranchers are deploying more and more data-driven technologies and solutions in their operation, and their need for reliable broadband connections in the field is intensifying.  This importan...

Rural connectivity, examples of it, and its importance in future growth of rural America, those were the focal points of a Rural Prosperity Roundtable recently in North Dakota.  Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, Anne Hazlett, noted just how important the issue became during last year's inaugural meetings of the White House Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. ... Read Mo

A group of community leaders, rural advocates, and industry innovators have come together to form “Connect Americans Now.”  Their goal is to work with the Federal Communications Commission and other policymakers to ensure that there is sufficient unlicensed broadband access in every market in the country.  The end-goal is unl...