FCC Chairman Ajit Pai toured several sites in California last week to learn how broadband is increasingly critical to America’s farms and ranches. He met with farmers and innovators in Woodland and Clarksburg, among other stops in Sacramento, San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. His first stop was business incubator AgStart in Woodland. Officials then drove Pai Clarksburg to visit Silt Wine Company and see firsthand the challenges facing farmers and connectivity.
He heard about those from Frank Muller in rural Yolo County, California. “Muller reports that connectivity could help him be much more productive. #precisionag is a key benefit to closing the #digitaldivide!” tweeted Pai.
“David Ogilvie of Muddy Boot Wine shared how solar-powered sensors enable him to monitor soil characteristics from his desktop—and how lack of LTE is limiting factor at Wilson Vineyards,” the Chairman continued.
“Part of the reason why I’m here is to underscore the importance of America’s farms and ranches” getting broadband connectivity, Pai told the Sacramento Bee. He noted California is a leader in terms of agriculture, for tomatoes, almonds, olives and many other crops. The tour, is to emphasize the fact that with connectivity, these Californians can be much more productive” and can get higher quality, and more food on the table, he said. “That’s a really important message for folks in Washington to be able to hear.” Read more about Pai’s “Digital Opportunity Tour” here.
April 1, 2019
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