What the Ag Census tells us about rural connectivity - Entrepreneur Generations

The recently released 2017 Census of Agriculture is a goldmine of information about the nation's farmers. Here's what it tells us about rural internet connectivity and what progress is (or isn't) being made, Margy Eckelkamp reports for AgProfessional.

Connectivity varies by size of the farm, but those with large farming operations generally have better internet access: less than 3% of farms with more than 140 acres have dial-up access. The most prevalent means of internet access has shifted from DSL to mobile wireless between 2012 and 2017. And though fewer farmers rely on dial-up, broadband adoption percentage has remained about the same, Eckelkamp reports.

Those reviewing the data must be careful about comparisons because of varying definitions and question parameters, though. The 2012 census included a "broadband" category, but that wasn't included in 2017. And the 2017 census included a "Don't Know" category that wasn't included in 2012, Eckelkamp reports. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Communications Commission aren't using the same terminology to define internet connectivity.

from The Rural Blog http://bit.ly/2KLwhLZ What the Ag Census tells us about rural connectivity - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

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