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Connect Americans Now pushes plan to increase broadband access
Connect Americans Now is working with the Federal Communications Commission to bring broadband to every community by 2022.
Zachary Cikanek, with Connect Americans Now, says of 34 million Americans who lack broadband access, 23 million are from rural areas.
He says this is especially trying for farmers using smart technology on their farm.
“Out to farmers who are using precision agriculture every day on a more aggressive basis to improve their yields, buy equipment at a lower rate, or access customers around world,” he says.
Cikanek tells Brownfield the group wants the FCC to make vacant television white spaces available to internet providers for broadband service.
“If we have at least three channels in every single market of the country that we know are going to be reserved in the future for broadband connectivity, then we know that there are private investors, public partners, and technology innovators who are ready, willing, and able to bring that technology out into those communities.”
TV white space is bandwidth below 700 megahertz, made available on an unlicensed basis. Wireless signals in that range can travel over hills and through buildings and trees.
He says many groups are concerned about providing broadband access, but this is an opportunity to make it happen.
Audio: Zachary Cikanek, Connect Americans Now
I live in Wayne County in Mississippi and we can only get Satilite for internet. Most of us 70 percent cannot afford this high cost access. Broadband would be way cheaper for our community and bring us leaps and bpunds from where we are.