Task Force Working Group Examines Current and Future Technology Needs

Washington, D.C. – March 26, 2020, Washington, DC – The Rural Wireless Association, Inc. (RWA) is pleased to announce its formal participation with the Federal Communications Commission’s Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in America (Precision AG Connectivity Task Force or Task Force).

On March 13, 2020, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced the appointment of Working Group Members serving on the Task Force.  The Task Force consists of four separate Working Groups, with Members representing local, state, federal, and Tribal government officials, telecommunications companies, farmers, ranchers, and other public and private sector individuals with experience dealing in rural and agricultural matters.

In making his announcement, Chairman Pai remarked that “[t]he FCC understands the importance of precision agriculture to the nation’s economy and wants to encourage its growth across the country.  That’s why I recently proposed a $9 billion 5G Fund to support next generation wireless services, which will include $1 billion specifically targeted toward precision agriculture.”  Representing RWA on the Task Force will be George Woodward, CEO of Trilogy Networks.  Mr. Woodward will serve as a member of the Task Force’s “Examining Current and Future Connectivity Demand for Precision Agriculture Working Group.”

“RWA’s mission is to promote wireless opportunities for U.S. rural telecommunications companies through advocacy and education,” said Carri Bennet, RWA General Counsel. “Having our longtime member and former Treasurer, George Woodward serve as RWA’s representative to the FCC’s Precision AG Connectivity Task Force provides immeasurable value to this important industry group and we know we will be well represented by his contributions.”

“The critical need for this Task Force has increased drastically with the onset of the Coronavirus,” says Bert Potts, RWA President & CEO and Wireless Manager at STRATA Networks. “The ability to deploy today’s technologies with future breakthroughs to enhance the farm-to-table ecosystem has never been more important.”

“The Precision Agriculture segment is keenly focused on solutions to drive the next generation of efficiency in agricultural output,” said Mr. Woodward, “We are at the genesis of what converged technologies can achieve. RWA will work closely with all of the Task Force’s Working Groups and supports the goal of rapidly deploying technologies like 5G, IoT, Edge Computing and AI to aid in advancing Precision Ag practices in the U.S.”

• For more information on the Rural Wireless Association, visit www.ruralwireless.org.
• For more information on the Federal Communications Commission, visit www.fcc.gov.
• For more information on Trilogy Networks, visit www.trilogynet.com.
• For more information on STRATA Networks, visit www.stratanetworks.com