Tom Stroup, President of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), testified before Congress on Wednesday, calling for funding and grants to support satellite broadband and IoT projects focused on serving rural areas. Speaking to the House Committee on Agriculture, Stroup highlighted the importance of satellite technology in agriculture, from satellite IoT for soil and livestock monitoring to precision GPS, Earth imaging for farming insights, weather forecasting, and broadband communications. He made seven recommendations to the committee, including offering financial incentives or tax breaks to satellite internet providers to encourage their participation in rural broadband expansion and allocating funds for satellite broadband and IoT focused on rural areas. The hearing will help the Agriculture Committee craft broadband provisions for the 2023 Farm Bill.
