Fischer Pushes for Streamlined Rural Broadband Expansion, Highlights Ag Research and Innovation in Nebraska

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing this week, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack about the department's efforts to promote broadband access in rural and unserved areas.

In 2021, Senator Fischer secured an amendment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a publicly accessible online mapping tool for broadband infrastructure deployment. This tool helps federal agencies like USDA to avoid duplication and efficiently deploy broadband networks across America. During her remarks, Senator Fischer also discussed her work to secure $25 million for the construction of a USDA Agricultural Research Service facility which will be co-located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Innovation Campus.

Senator Fischer also highlighted advancements from the USDA's Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, that support the state and country's livestock industry.

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On Supporting Precision Agriculture Technology Research:
Senator Fischer: In FY24, I was glad to secure $25 million toward USDA's ARS NationalCenter for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture to be co-located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. And I'm excited that we will be holding a groundbreaking in a few weeks alongside some of your leadership at USDA. And I look forward to continuing to work with USDA on that facility and to advance that very important technology.

On the Need to Expand Broadband Access:
Senator Fischer: I believe it's important to maximize the funding that broadband programs are receiving and to get broadband to unserved areas. In order to do that, I think it would make sense that we have one data source that we can rely on, about where broadband is and where it is not.

Can you share how the USDA has tried to promote a more consistent challenge process comparing what is used by Rural Utility Service versus what is used by the FCC, in connection with the National Broadband Map? And has USDA considered measures to improve transparency for challenges by publishing written reason decisions on those challenges?
Secretary Vilsack: When we received the resource under the bipartisan infrastructure law, the White House convened the FCC, the Department of Commerce, and the USDA, and expressed a concern for collaboration and cooperation between the three entities. We made the decision that we would try to get our resources out under the ReConnect Program as quickly as possible, which we have. We've obligated those resources.

We will continue to make announcements for the rest of this year, but roughly 320 projects will be funded. And the location and the scope and the nature of those projects was provided to the FCC and the Department of Commerce. So, they in turn could take that into consideration as they made decisions concerning the allocation of a far greater amount of money that they received that they, in turn, provide to the states, to encourage the states then to make the necessary changes to ensure that we do, in fact, ultimately have access to decent broadband everywhere in the country.

On the Importance of Agricultural Research:
Senator Fischer: I also want to discuss the USDA Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, Nebraska. As you know, livestock is the largest segment for agriculture in Nebraska. I was glad to see the budget request included a request for additional employees at USMARC in Clay Center.

Your ARS budget request also highlighted some of the important advancements that USMARC has accomplished, such as a development that could protect cattle from BVD, which is estimated to cause annual losses of $1 billion in the United States alone.

So, Mr. Secretary, could you discuss how that increased staff at USMARC can help carry out research related to critical livestock industry priorities, including increased environmental sustainability, improved production efficiencies, and optimized use of natural resources?
Secretary Vilsack: I think the easiest way to answer that question - we will approach these challenges in the same way we approach all challenges relative to agriculture, and that is in a cooperative and collaborative way, working not just with the university, but also working with those who are directly impacted and affected by the research. Critically important to any of this is the cooperation of producers. And producers are in the best position to inform us as to where they think priorities should be. And we should be responsive to those priorities. And the research should be driven, in part, by virtue of those priorities.

It should also work in concert with the research that we are independently investing in through our National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as well as the private foundation that was established in a previous Farm Bill so that we have a comprehensive approach, a coordinated approach so that we're not basically spending $2 when $1 will do. So, I think it's a collaborative approach. It's a cooperative approach, and it's a comprehensive approach.

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