Unleashing America’s Farms

The United States is the world’s largest agricultural exporter, accounting for nearly $150 billion worth of
products every year. We have managed to maintain this top position despite employing a fraction of the
work force as other major exporters such as China or India. One of the main reasons behind this has
been the innovation of many amazing new technologies, and our nation’s investment in an
infrastructure which can support them.

This is why “connecting the last acre” – to borrow a term from Sally Burchfield Doty, Director of my home state Mississippi’s Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility – is so crucial to the future of
the American economy. Farming tools utilizing 5G can reduce water consumption by up to 40%, save 90% of weed spray utilizing precision spraying, and vastly reduce labor needs. Despite these huge
advantages being offered, many American farms remain cut off from the 5G network.

The lower and upper 12 GHz spectrum bands can provide immediate and impactful relief for American providers and consumers. These bands are a unique opportunity, having no government encumbrances.
This means a large portion of effective mid-band spectrum can be deployed immediately to agricultural communities and more without an auction, pending the approval of a rules change by the FCC.

In order to unleash America’s farms, the FCC needs to enable what makes America special, our creativity and innovation. By maximizing the 12 GHz bands, the FCC can bring more farms and more Americans online while strengthening our nation’s economy.

-Chip Pickering, Co-Chair of the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition