Wheat harvest on the Palouse in the Northwest U.S. Photo: USDA Agricultural Research Service.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel put out a call for representatives from diverse and underrepresented communities to apply for membership on the FCC’s Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force, including socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The FCC issued a release on Aug. 21 announcing its intent to charter the task force for a third and final term. The FCC wants the four working groups to look at how connectivity impacts production and sustainability challenges for agricultural and food systems. 

The Task Force was established under the 2018 Farm Bill and provides advice to the FCC, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), on how to deploy broadband service on unserved agricultural land to promote precision agriculture. It is set to conclude its work in January 2025. Nominations are open until Sept. 20. 

“Today’s farmers and ranchers rely on high-speed internet to make the best use of connected tools to efficiently run their businesses and meet the demand for food to sustain our communities,” Rosenworcel said. “I am calling on the Task Force to look closely at the link between connectivity and agricultural sustainability, to see how best to leverage innovation to improve food production for the future.”