Rural America, including many farmers and ranchers, have no or very slow-speed broadband service. In today’s economy, affordable high-speed broadband service is essential to manage and operate successful businesses—rural and urban alike.
Today, 33 percent of America’s farmers and ranchers remain without Internet access—a now crucial component to keeping their businesses competitive both here and abroad, reports American Farm Bureau Federation.
High-speed broadband allows farmers and ranchers to use precision agriculture equipment, follow commodity markets, communicate with customers and access new markets around the world. Also, it plays an important role through new business opportunities, improved health care and educational services, enhanced public safety and increased participation in government.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Connect America Fund (CAF) to preserve and expand voice and broadband services, both fixed and mobile, in high-cost areas of the country that would not otherwise be served.
CAF will increase downstream and upstream speeds and give entities opportunities to participate in CAF. The broadband infrastructure supported by the CAF will need the ability to increase that minimum speed in future years.