American Dairy Coalition Calls for Congressional Action to Strengthen and Expand America’s Broadband Infrastructure and Mapping

Recently, the American Dairy Coalition sent a joint letter along with four other agriculture and livestock trade groups, requesting that Congress “take swift, bipartisan action to invest in strengthening and expanding America’s broadband infrastructure and mapping,” as outlined in the Broadband DATA Act.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined now more than ever the importance of reliable access to high-speed internet in rural America. These often overlooked regions of the U.S. provide our nation’s most valuable resource—highly nutritious and abundant food and fiber that keeps affordable products and dietary staples in high supply on grocery store shelves across the country. Farmers need access to reliable internet to manage their businesses. 

In February of this year, the Broadband DATA Act was passed by Congress. This bipartisan legislation was designed to extend internet coverage to rural areas; however, the government does not have reliable data on high-speed broadband coverage in America. The FCC has relied on census block data to make policy and resource allocation decision, however this approach is imperfect and falls short of the rates of connectivity that new tools and technology can enable.

Congress must quickly utilize funding initiatives as proposed in the Broadband DATA Act and infrastructure deployment. The Broadband DATA Act will help communities overcome digital barriers that have only worsened by the pandemic to create a stronger, more connected future for rural America.    

You can read the full letter here: Congressional Letter on Broadband Data Act