Although agriculture has an estimated $87 billion impact on North Carolina’s economy, many farmers struggle to get affordable, high-speed internet service for their farm offices, which they need to communicate with customers, analyze and share data, and engage the commodities markets.
The NC Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO) is working to better identify coverage gaps and to find ways to expand broadband connectivity to farms in
areas that are currently unserved or underserved. In January 2020, in partnership with the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University (NCSU), BIO launched the Internet
Connectivity for Farmers Survey to gauge the caliber of internet service at farms and farm offices across North Carolina and identify locations in need of better connectivity. More than 1250 respondents from unique addresses in 98 counties took the survey, and 90 percent of respondents said that reliable high-speed internet is “extremely important” or “very important” to conduct business.
For the complete findings from the BIO, click here.