Rep Finstad and Rep Caraveo introduce Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments (LAST ACRE) Act…

Today, members of the House Agriculture Committee Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) introduced the Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments (LAST ACRE) Act. This legislation would expand high-speed broadband internet access throughout rural communities by establishing a Last Acre Program within the USDA’s Office of Rural Development.

While existing programs at USDA support “last mile” broadband deployment, extending networks to underserved households in rural America, the LAST ACRE Act would create a new competitive grant and loan program at USDA to expand high-speed broadband internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland, and farm sites. …

The LAST ACRE Act is endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Competitive Carriers Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Farmers Union, John Deere, Ethos Connected, and Wireless Internet Service Providers Association. …

Full text of the legislation can be found here.