Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act of 2018

United States115th CongressHR-4881House of Representatives
Updated: Jul 24, 2018

Summary

Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act of 2018 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States. The task force's duties include: identifying and measuring current gaps in the availability of broadband Internet access service on agricultural land; developing policy recommendations to promote the rapid, expanded deployment of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service on unserved agricultural land, with a goal of achieving reliable capabilities on 95% of agricultural land in the United States by 2025; promoting effective policy and regulatory solutions that encourage the adoption of broadband Internet access service on farms and ranches and promote precision agriculture; recommending specific new rules or amendments to existing FCC rules; recommending specific steps that the FCC should take to obtain reliable and standardized data measurements of the availability of broadband Internet access service as necessary to target funding support, from future FCC programs dedicated to the deployment of such service, to unserved agricultural land; and recommending specific steps that the FCC should consider to ensure that the expertise of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and available farm data are reflected in such future FCC programs. USDA and the FCC shall jointly submit to the task force a list of all federal programs or resources available for the expansion of broadband Internet access service on unserved agricultural land. The task force must submit annually to the FCC a report that details: (1) the status of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service coverage of agricultural land; (2) the projected future connectivity need of agricultural operations, farmers, and ranchers; and (3) steps taken to accurately measure the availability of broadband Internet access service on agricultural land and the limitations of current measurement processes. The FCC shall renew the task force every two years until it terminates on January 1, 2025. (Sec. 4) No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill.

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Timeline

Latest companion bill action

S-2343: Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act of 2018

Held at the desk.

  1. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 378 - 4 (Roll no. 367). (text: CR H6595-6596)

    House of Representatives

    View vote
  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    House of Representatives

  3. The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

    House of Representatives

  4. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    Senate