Update NY economy requires broadband expansion

Expanding broadband and improving internet connectivity is crucial for communities across New York State. Digital resources and reliable internet service are now as necessary as the infrastructure supporting clean water and electricity. Whether it is the expansion of remote employment, access to telehealth services, online education opportunities, or technological advancements in agriculture, upstate regions must have access to next-generation connectivity to support current demands and anticipate future innovation.

As executive director of the Upstate New York Towns Association, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with other policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community members on the future of upstate New York's economy. For example, the pandemic showed us just how important broadband is for students doing their schoolwork at home, for people doing their jobs from home, and for people accessing medical care from home. But because of no internet or intermittent internet, my fellow upstate elected officials and I continue to hear from families where their children cannot do their schoolwork, people cannot do their jobs remotely, and people cannot access telehealth resources.

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I have continuously urged our political leaders in Albany and Washington to recognize that broadband services are vital to supporting the recovery and resilience of upstate communities as they work to attract innovative professionals finding themselves untethered to city living as remote working opportunities proliferate. In addition, local leaders and upstate businesses are focused on growing the population, creating high-paying jobs and developing and reimagining our local economies. All these initiatives will require fast, reliable internet connectivity.

Consider the advancement and adoption of precision agriculture in our region, which requires developing and manufacturing new technologies, equipment and sensors. Precision agriculture fosters job growth in research and development, engineering, manufacturing and assembly, providing employment opportunities throughout the region. Some of these techniques and technologies include installing wireless sensors powered by 5G technology in fields to continuously monitor soil moisture, temperature, humidity and other environmental factors. Another innovation of note includes leveraging 5G's fast speeds to enhance food production and monitor crop yields with autonomous robots. These robots can scan up to 10 plants per second, measuring the height, leaf-area index and other indicators of health, allowing farmers to manage crops more efficiently.

Unfortunately, inaction in Washington could disrupt these advancements. Earlier this spring, political obstinance allowed the FCC's Spectrum authority to expire, creating uncertainty regarding future spectrum allocation for increased access to broadband and the internet. Spectrum, simply put, refers to the radio frequencies that supply bandwidth and enable wireless and mobile data connections. Without the FCC's ability to allocate spectrum for digital resources, network operators cannot deploy and use new spectrum bands, stalling future use of emerging technologies. For regional residents, as well as agriculture and other industries, this will lead to network congestion — slowing economic growth, and stifling innovation.

This is not just a long-term problem; the effects are being felt now. For example, a company is currently unable to secure the necessary spectrum licenses to deploy wireless technology in the 2.5 GHz band, which is critical to providing broadband connectivity to rural communities. With many regions having limited or no access to broadband Internet connectivity, this political impasse is currently hindering development. These are farmers, parents, students, and communities who could have better coverage today but cannot because the FCC is not now empowered to activate these licenses.

However, it is not enough to bring back the FCC's spectrum authority; Congress must give the FCC direction, establishing a series of spectrum initiatives for the FCC to move on without delay. This includes setting up spectrum auctions and a pipeline of future allocations focused on the full-power licensed spectrum that will allow for efficient propagation and coverage, enabling long-range connectivity solutions that will only speed up broadband deployment not just in rural areas but across New York and the nation. These initiatives will allow more Americans to have better connectivity regardless of where they live. In addition, these spectrum bands will make possible the ability to use emerging technologies we have only begun to imagine.

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Policymakers should be focused on legislation that will enhance the development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies in agriculture and manufacturing in upstate and rural New York. At the national level, the United States can position itself at the forefront of a new industrial revolution, where sustainable practices, data-driven decision-making, and technological advancements converge to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We must bridge the digital divide and give all regions a chance to thrive and prosper in 2023 and beyond.

Carolyn Price is the executive director of the Upstate New York Towns Association, based in Binghamton.