Working towards a new broadband authority

Mar 01, 2021

Kentucky’s ag department may be responsible for planning and coordinating broadband development in the state

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A state agriculture department may soon be responsible for broadband issues in its community.

House Bill 348, which would create a new Office of Broadband Innovation within the Kentucky department of agriculture, passed a committee reading on Feb. 23. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.

If passed, the new branch of the ag department would “be the sole executive branch agency to apply for, receive, administer, and expend federal funds for broadband deployment,” the bill says.

Hundreds of thousands of Kentucky homes remain without adequate broadband service.

About 257,000 people in the state don’t have access to broadband services, BroadbandNow.com reports. Overall, the state ranks 40^th in broadband access.

For context, the Federal Communications Commission categorizes basic service as speeds between 3 and 8 Mbps. Medium service is 12 to 25 Mbps and advanced service is anything higher than 25 Mbps.

The department of ag is well-suited to take on some broadband responsibilities, lawmakers said.

“We feel (it) does have a natural fit when it comes to broadband deployment,” Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles said, the Messenger-Inquirer reported. “Our office has an intimate understanding of the needs of rural Kentucky.”

Other state politicians are concerned if the ag department can handle these additional duties.

“I’m worried about the Commissioner of Agriculture’s office having the expertise,” said Rep. Angie Hatton, the Messenger-Inquirer reported.

Kentucky wouldn’t be the first state to create separate broadband offices to oversee this issue.

Florida, Washington State, Minnesota and New York are examples of states that already have offices specifically for broadband issues.

Farms.com has contacted members of Kentucky’s ag community for comment.

Video: How women saved agricultural economics and other ideas for why diversity matters | Jill J. McCluskey

Dr. Jill J. McCluskey, Regents Professor at Washington State University and Director of the School of Economic Science

Dr. McCluskey documents that women entered agricultural economics in significant numbers starting in the 1980s, and their ranks have increased over time. She argues that women have increased the relevance in the field of agricultural economics through their diverse interests, perspectives, and experiences. In their research, women have expanded the field's treatment of non-traditional topics such as food safety and nutrition and environmental and natural resource economics. In this sense, women saved the Agricultural Economics profession from a future as a specialty narrowly focused on agricultural production and markets. McCluskey will go on to discuss some of her own story and how it has shaped some of her thinking and research. She will present her research on dual-career couples in academia, promotional achievement of women in both Economics and Agricultural Economics, and work-life support programs.

The Daryl F. Kraft Lecture is arranged by the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, with the support of the Solomon Sinclair Farm Management Institute, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.