Company: AGM-PH
Filing Date: 2025-11-03
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0000845877-25-000252
Chunk: 248

Company: FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE CORP
Filing Date: 2025-11-03
Form: 10-Q
Item: Part I, Item 8
Chunk 248
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2027 unless construction begins by July 4, 2026.  

Broadband Infrastructure

Rural telecommunication and data connectivity has proven to be of vital economic importance in the last decade, as more households and agricultural enterprises require more data and connectivity to thrive. The rapid growth in digital technologies, including the ongoing interest and investment in artificial intelligence, advancements in cloud computing, and wireless network densification, will require significantly more computing and storage capabilities as well as investment in additional fiber network capacity. These industry tailwinds are creating additional investments in rural telecommunications infrastructure, which is aided by access to many federally funded programs, such as the U.S. Department of Commerce's Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), the Federal Communications Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and the USDA’s ReConnect program. In addition to capital projects spurred by these programs, Farmer Mac could see an increase in financing opportunities for other telecommunications providers in rural areas, with fiber line expansion, wireless broadband deployment, industry consolidation and efficiency through mergers and acquisitions, and data processing center buildouts all increasingly important to rural economic opportunity and the constant connectivity required by the food and agriculture industries. However, some types of "leapfrog" 

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technology advances in the broadband infrastructure sector, such as low orbit satellite communication systems, could put pressure on the profitability of the providers of older digital technologies.

Changes in tax policy, trade, and immigration laws, as well as energy cost and availability, could result in significant challenges and opportunities to infrastructure borrowers. These changes could lead to delays in completing current projects and slow future investments in renewable energy and battery storage projects as well as the deployment of fiber and broadband infrastructure in rural areas. Any lack of availability or increased costs of components or technology that results from tariffs or trade restrictions also could lead to delays in completion or slow future investments in infrastructure projects. The infrastructure sector may experience varying degrees of disruption and adaptation in response to these evolving policies, and these changes could increase the volatility of sector profitability in the near-term. The potential for disruption in these sectors due to policy changes may be somewhat mitigated by the historically strong market demand for connectivity, the ongoing diversification of infrastructure providers, and continued strong investments in data centers and fiber infrastructure. New data center infrastructure requires significant demand for power, so delays in grid hookups or electricity capacity could delay some capital or infrastructure deployment.

Legislative, Regulatory, and Political Outlook 

Farmer Mac continues to closely monitor executive branch actions and potential legislative and regulatory changes that could significantly