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Investment in broadband needed for rural success

An ag equipment policy specialist says Rural Americans are one of the most important groups of people who need access to rural broadband.

Nick Tindall, with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers took part in a recent panel discussion on Capitol Hill on the future of broadband infrastructure.

He says the lack of connectivity continues to be a challenge.  “When they look at those maps of areas that don’t have wireless coverage,” he says.  “We need to stop thinking of them as deserts.  Rather, that’s a corn field with $10 million worth of product in it and it needs wireless connectivity to utilize its full economic potential.”

Tindall says the ultimate goal is to produce a safe, affordable food supply and it becomes more difficult without access to broadband.

Mark Lewellen with John Deere says farmers need high speed internet to successfully run their operations.  “These guys that are out there today are young businessmen like you are,” he says.  “And what they need to be able to run their business and to be effective and be competitive on a global market is huge.  And if we don’t address that in today’s world we’ll be paying for that later down the road.”

Iowa ag secretary Bill Northey says an investment in broadband infrastructure is a necessity, much like the interstate highway system.  “What we’re talking about here is not only allowing technology to be used in areas that it wouldn’t be able to be used without the infrastructure of broadband,” he says. “But also encouraging and enabling that innovation.”

The panelists say funding for rural broadband development will need to come primarily from public dollars – but there is also opportunity for some public/private partnership.

Audio used in this story was courtesy of Association of Equipment Manufacturers and part of a panel discussion on Capitol Hill about the future of rural broadband infrastructure.

 

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