Last summer, two reports of practical significance to the agricultural sector were released.

The first is a report from the National Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the United States Department of Agriculture, revealing how much rural Pennsylvania is lagging behind neighboring states and the entire continental United States in terms of numbers.

The report shows that 64% of Pennsylvania farms will have internet access in 2020. In comparison, the country’s farms have an Internet access rate of 82%, while Maryland and Delaware have an Internet access rate of 80%, New Jersey’s 91%, and New York State’s 81%.

Second, there is a report by the United State Council, which puts forward recommendations on how Pennsylvania can achieve the goal of universal access to high-speed broadband.

The report was authorized by Senate Resolution No. 47 to establish a broadband think tank to study policy options and recommend public policies. Pennsylvania Farm is the only member rural organization selected to participate in this work.

The long-term solution recommended by the United State Government Commission report is to establish an independent broadband agency as the central point of contact for development funding sources, seek federal funding for broadband, and provide grants to unserved and underserved areas.

Grange, Pennsylvania strongly supports the creation of a broadband management agency.

For several years, universal access to high-speed broadband has been the top legislative priority for Grange, Pennsylvania, and we are very pleased that Pennsylvania is about to achieve this goal.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives bill of 2071 created a broadband agency to allocate funds to areas that are currently unserviced and underserved, and it is ready to be submitted to the governor by the end of this year. Among other responsibilities, the agency will also pay funds provided by the Federal Infrastructure Act to increase broadband access in rural areas

As more and more services move to online platforms, rural Pennsylvania has been hit hard during the pandemic. Funding from the US rescue plan and infrastructure bill is good news.

Many of our Grange members find themselves living in low-density areas, far from broadband equipment and limited access, in an untenable position. This makes telemedicine, job commitment and distance learning almost impossible.

It is often reported that high school students have difficulty graduating from high school due to the situation in the last mile.

Pennsylvania's agriculture also urgently needs broadband. Many of our members want to upgrade farm equipment to increase productivity. But without reliable broadband, the device is useless.

Pennsylvania is a major producer of agricultural products such as milk, fruits and mushrooms. Farmers rely on broadband to improve efficiency and economics in agricultural operations, which in turn enables Pennsylvania to continue to compete in the global economy.

Without reliable broadband, we cannot maintain Pennsylvania’s agricultural production.

In this unfortunate situation, the Pennsylvanians are getting help. American relief funds given to Pennsylvania County are being deployed to rural areas.

Although there is certainly no one-size-fits-all technology when discussing broadband, many rural counties are increasingly turning to fiber optic lines to meet the needs of residents in low-density areas. Investing in fiber optic lines may be a long-term solution for unserved areas of Pennsylvania.

Fiber optic lines are a reliable and effective way to meet rural broadband needs. The speed provided by the fiber plus the low maintenance it requires makes the fiber effective.

Fiber optic cables can save long-term maintenance costs in inaccessible areas in the state. As customer needs change, fiber optic cables can also transition to different tasks.

Grange, Pennsylvania, is happy to be an integral part of policy decisions because they are about broadband.

Pennsylvania is about to connect communities with the technology they desperately need, and we encourage policymakers to continue to promote true universal broadband.

Wayne Campbell is the president of Pennsylvania State Grange, an organization established in 1873 to promote the interests of farmers, families, and rural communities.