As noted in August 4, 2011 edition of AgriNews, Mike Marth, who makes a living as both a farmer and computer programmer, admits that utilizing high speed broadband makes it possible for him to effectively and efficiently manage the operations of his farm in Rudd, Iowa. He explained how he uses internet access during a meeting last week which was well-attended by independent telecommunications companies that service rural areas, local and state dignitaries, and of course, fellow farmers. Marth reported that he keeps track of market trends, weather reports and trends, and he also conducts a lot of online research related to learning about the operations of his farm. He utilizes GPS monitors and receivers on his machinery and they receive regular program updates via the web. He researched how to operate his new planter online. Despite this obvious need for broadband access, when you do an online search for Internet service providers by zip code it is still obvious that rural communities are lacking a lot of options.
Marth said dialup simply is not an option. The administrator of the USDA Rural Utilities Service, Jonathan Adelstein, gave a talk at the meeting as well. He asserted that youth in rural communities must be able to access broadband connections to get the quality education needed to lead successful lives. “The next Steve Jobs might come from Rudd, but if he didn’t have access to broadband he would never have the opportunity to learn and grow,” said Adelstein.
