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Rural Connectivity Critical to Sustaining National Food Supply, FCC Task Force Told

Improving rural broadband access is critical to protecting and sustaining the national food supply, the FCC Precision Agriculture Task Force was told at Wednesday's online meeting. The COVID-19 pandemic will help the PATF identify "where we are strong and where we are weak" on connectivity, said group Vice Chair and Pioneer Communications CEO Catherine Moyer.

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Agriculture operators and communications technicians are deemed essential workers in the current national emergency, noted Daniel Leibfried, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group director-advanced technology. Leibfried leads the new task force working group on connectivity demands in precision ag. The WG plans to deliver its first report at the December meeting.

Succession planning is a big problem in agriculture, said Farmwave founder Craig Ganssle, who presented on artificial intelligence. "People don't live forever," he said. "How do you pass that knowledge down?" Mobile applications help identify crop disease and pests when farmers take photos and check them against AI, he said. Applications are available on the edge, he said. The company is working on over-the-air capabilities, "but you'll still need that backhaul," he said. The applications may take more bandwidth than is available, he said. "We're seeing an increase of robotics" as machines replace some workers who pick fruits and vegetables, he added: "Those things are going to require connectivity."

Entrepreneurs who commit to broadband should replace ILECs that haven't invested, suggested E2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Vice President Don Macke. "Some incumbents are disinvesting in rural communities but have been reluctant to give up on these markets," he said. "We need to get providers who really want to provide good service."

The group discussed the need for a catchier informal name that could broaden its reach. Chair and Land O'Lakes Chief Technology Officer Teddy Bekele suggested it include "digital" and "rural."

"It's important to pull the right people into the conversation," Moyer said. "It's a wider conversation." Leibfried wants to keep precision agriculture as a focus if the group comes up with an informal name. Andy Bater of Fifth Estate Growers called the current title unwieldy and said an acronym would be useful.

Members shared trade shows and professional meetings they found helpful and encouraged each to recommend speakers. Some want a meeting at Grand Farm (see 1908150057) in Fargo, North Dakota, if field trips are allowed. When a quorum is present outside a formal setting, members can't discuss official PATF business without special provisions, said Jesse Jachman, designated federal officer.

The next meeting is July 22, subject to change.