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Federal Communications Commission report shows importance of rural broadband

A new report by the Federal Communications Commission acknowledges the impact of rural broadband service on-farm productivity.

The FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics released the new paper called “Impact of Broadband Penetration on U.S. Farm Productivity.” 

In a statement Thursday, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai says this paper underscores the importance of the Commission’s top priority of expanding broadband access in rural and underserved areas.  Pai says the availability of broadband has significant positive impacts on crop yields and other farm production metrics by lowering fertilizer and seed costs. 

The FCC report cites one example where a 1% increase in the number of rural broadband connections per 1000 households is associated with a 3.6% increase in corn yields.

Pai says the report shows how the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and other service programs that help deliver broadband to rural America can benefit everyone all by helping America’s farmers produce more and better food.