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Dec 12, 2019
The Agricultural Broadband Coalition (ABC), this week applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) plan to launch a $9 billion 5G fund to make rural broadband expansion a priority.
ABC brings together farm groups like ASA and other ag stakeholders. In a statement earlier this week, the coalition welcomed the chairman’s recognition that America’s farmers and ranchers have unique wireless connectivity needs.
“Expanded deployment of a full range of advanced mobile and fixed broadband technologies in rural areas, including 5G, is key to supporting precision agriculture technologies on croplands and ranchlands and essential for a vibrant rural America,” ABC states.
This major investment in rural America would be allocated through a reverse auction and would target hard-to-serve areas with sparse populations and/or rugged terrain. The $9 billion Fund also would set aside at least $1 billion specifically for deployments facilitating precision agriculture needs.
ASA continues to advocate for rural access to broadband to support a soy grower’s ability to farm, find markets for and transport beans as agriculture becomes an increasingly more technology-driven sector.
