Effort Supports $1 Billion Commitment to Facilitate Deployment of Wireless AgTech Networks.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the next public meeting of its Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force (Task Force), which has been scheduled for March 28, 2023.

As you know from our prior alert, the purpose of the FCC’s Task Force is to provide advice and recommendations to the FCC on accelerating the deployment of broadband Internet access service on unserved agricultural land to promote precision agriculture.  The Task Force is supported by four working groups, namely:

• Mapping and Analyzing Connectivity on Agricultural Lands Working Group

• Examining Current and Future Connectivity Demand for Precision Agriculture Working Group

• Encouraging Adoption of Precision Agriculture and Availability of High-Quality Jobs on Connected Farms Working Group

• Accelerating Broadband Deployment on Unserved Agricultural Lands Working Group

These efforts support the FCC's focus on "precision agriculture" technologies and issues, as the agency has committed at least $1 billion to target the deployment of technologically innovative 5G networks that facilitate precision agriculture. These funds will be available in "Phase II" of the FCC's 5G Fund, the general goal of which is to bring 5G wireless broadband connectivity to rural America.

The Task Force public meeting will be held Tuesday, March 28 beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The meeting will include updates on:

• The progress of the reports for the Working Groups

• Discussion of policy expectations relevant to the Task Force’s duties

• Discussion of strategies to advance broadband deployment on agricultural land and promote precision agriculture

The meeting will be virtual and is open to the public via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live.