Call for Nominations: FCC Task Force to Consider Broadband Needs for Precision Agriculture

On June 17, the Federal Communications Commission announced a new Task Force for Reviewing Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States, a byproduct of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The task force will work with the FCC and Department of Agriculture to develop policy recommendations for the deployment of broadband access to unserved agricultural land. The FCC is asking for nominations for the 15-member task force by July 17. Specifically, the FCC is looking for representatives from agricultural producers, including representatives of tribal agriculture, internet service providers, the electric cooperative industry, the satellite industry, precision agriculture equipment manufacturers, state and local governments, and individuals with relevant expertise in broadband network data collection, geospatial analysis and coverage mapping.

The task force will prepare for the FCC Chairman annual reports that detail the status of internet access coverage of agricultural land, projected future needs for internet connectivity and steps taken to accurately measure the availability of broadband access on agricultural lands. Task force members must be willing to serve a 2-year term and attend at least 3 one- or two-day plenary meetings per year. Meetings of the full task force will be held at the FCC headquarters in DC. Members also are expected to participate in at least one subcommittee, if established, but those meetings will most often occur by teleconference.

We expect the task force's reports and recommendations will inform the FCC's future policy decisions and rulemaking proceedings. In the past, John Deere, National Grange, Farm Bureaus, Trimble and other precision agriculture advocates have been active in shaping the FCC's decision-making process.

If you are interested in nominating someone from your company to serve on the task force, or if you would like more information about this initiative, please contact one of the below authors.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only, and your access or use of the content does not create an attorney-client relationship between you or your organization and Cooley LLP, Cooley (UK) LLP, or any other affiliated practice or entity (collectively referred to as “Cooley”). By accessing this content, you agree that the information provided does not constitute legal or other professional advice. This content is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction and you should not act or refrain from acting based on this content. This content may be changed without notice. It is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up to date, and it may not reflect the most current legal developments. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Do not send any confidential information to Cooley, as we do not have any duty to keep any information you provide to us confidential. This content may be considered Attorney Advertising and is subject to our legal notices.