Precision Ag Task Force OKs Broadband Deployment WG Interim Report

Precision ag can lead to "agricultural yields and better environmental outcomes," said acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: "The efficiency gains this technology could foster, provided at scale, could help farms both big and small.” Commissioner Nathan Simington said the report "could not possibly be more timely." Precision farming "isn’t nice to have, it's essential," he said.

The recommendation to recognize farm data and infrastructure as a matter of national security sparked brief debate. “I'm very concerned when you get this kind of connectivity that you could have somebody hack into the cameras in the barn to see what is going on and plan some type of terrorist activity,” said Michael Adelaine, South Dakota State University vice president-technology and security. Policies are needed on safeguards in technology and what happens when there are terrorist activities due to connectivity, Adelaine said. The WG included language that "malicious acts should be considered a terrorist act, domestic or international." Other members debated how agricultural data can be used for the greater good without compromising anonymity. Members agreed this should be a joint discussion across the WGs.

The interim report recommended the commission implement geographic buildout rather than population-based requirements, tied to spectrum auctions with “shorter and more aggressive” buildout timelines. "This change would better ensure coverage in more sparsely populated areas,” said Heather Hampton Knodle, task force vice chair and American Agri-Women vice president. The task force debated how standards and performance targets for speed and quality metrics should be defined while remaining technology-neutral. Some members raised concerns about not explicitly listing satellite technology, but the WG made clear the recommendations are for all available technologies.

The WG recommended federal agencies use the "same threshold for establishing what is considered to be broadband service and ensure all support mechanisms and incentives, including nearly symmetrical service." The FCC should also "identify and implement policies to facilitate the use of low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum for precision agriculture applications," it recommended. Policies that require auction bidders to show the “long-term sustainability and scalability of their proposed networks" should be strengthened, the document said.

The FCC and U.S. Department of Agriculture should develop policies that incentivize connectivity to rural agricultural land headquarters, the WG said. "Incentivize the expansion of middle-mile infrastructure leveraging best in class connectivity such as fiber optic infrastructure." The FCC and USDA should also let parties get funding from multiple sources, the report said, because some state programs haven't allowed recipients of one program to apply for additional funds from another.

The WG suggested exploring "novel business models" and working with stakeholders to “leverage the expertise of local, independent, existing operators” to build community-based high-speed networks. Knodle highlighted potential issues that warrant further discussion, including 5G buildout, accountability, formalizing existing relationships, enacting previous recommendations, and ongoing funding for broadband deployment.