Skip to main content Skip to search


Browse by
                    category
                Browse by
                    bureaus & offices
            About the FCC
          About the FCC
                      About the FCC Overview
                                                      What We Do
                                                      Rulemaking Process
                                                      Leadership
                                                      FCC Initiatives
                                                      Find People
                                                      Organizational Charts
                                                      Advisory Committees
                                                      Jobs and Internships
                                                      Contracting
                                                      Strategic Plans & Budgets
                                                      Contact
                                                                    FY 2025 Congressional Budget Justification
                                                      Privacy Policy
                                                      Accessibility Program
                Proceedings & Actions
          Proceedings & Actions
                      Proceedings and Actions Overview
                                                      Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
                                                      Commission Documents (EDOCS)
                                                      Most Active Proceedings
                                                      Items on Circulation
                                                      Ex-Parte
                                                      Daily Digest
                                                      Mergers & Transactions
                                                      Auctions
                Licensing & Databases
          Licensing & Databases
                      Overview
                                                      About Licensing
                                                      Databases
                                                      Fees
                                                      Forms
                                                      FCC Registration System (CORES)
                                                      System Alerts & Notifications
                                                      ASR
                                                      CDBS
                                                      CEFS
                                                      COALS
                                                      CORES
                                                      CSRS
                                                      DIRS
                                                      EA
                                                      ECFS
                                                      EDOCS
                                                      ELS
                                                      ETFS
                                                      ETRS
                                                      GenMen
                                                      HAM
                                                      KDB
                                                      KIDVID
                                                      LMS
                                                      ICFS
                                                      NORS
                                                      PIF
                                                      PIRATE
                                                      PSIX-ESIX
                                                      RLD
                                                      TCB
                                                      ULS
                                                      URS
                                                      VPD
                Reports & Research
          Reports & Research
                      Reports and Data Overview
                                                      Reports
                                                      Data
                                                      Guides
                                                                    Maps
                                                      Working Papers
                                                      For Developers
                                                                    Fiscal Year 2022-2026 Strategic Plan
                                                      Workload Dashboard
                News & Events
          News & Events
                      News and Events Overview
                                                      Headlines
                                                      Commission Meetings
                                                      Events
                                                      Archived Events
                                                      FCC Podcast
                                                      Notes from the FCC
                                                      FCC Blog
                                                      RSS Feeds & Email Signup
                                                                    April 2024 Open Commission Meeting
                For Consumers
          For Consumers
                      Help Center Overview
                                                                    Consumer Complaint Center
                                                      Disability Rights
                                                      Headlines
                                                      Social Media
                                                                    Robocalls
                                                                    Consumer Complaint Center
              Consumer
                Enforcement
                Media
                Public Safety
                Space
                Wireless
                Wireline
                Offices
    
                  Search
  

  X
  Search Home
              Economics and Analytics
              Reports & Research
              Working Papers

  Impact of Broadband Penetration on U.S. Farm Productivity Author Names(s)
                  Katherine LoPiccalo

        
                  **Date Issued:**
        February 19, 2021

        
          Body
                  **OEA Working Paper 50**

**Abstract:** This paper uses data on broadband connections and the production and sales of agricultural products to empirically estimate the impact of improved connectivity on U.S. farming outcomes. The Federal Communications Commission has detailed data on broadband subscriptions from its semi-annual Form 477 collection. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) releases a complete census of agriculture every five years to measure agricultural activity. By pairing periodic releases of the Form 477 data collection with information on farm production expenses and crop yields from corresponding releases of the Census of Agriculture, the analysis directly evaluates the benefit of rural broadband development on the U.S. farming industry. Overall, I find evidence of crop yield improvements from increased Internet penetration rates at thresholds of 25 Megabits-per-second download and 3 Megabits-per-second upload speeds. Among the findings, doubling the number of 25+/3+ connections per 1,000 households is associated with a 3.6% increase in corn yields, as measured in bushels per acre. I also find some evidence of cost savings at thresholds of 10 Megabits-per-second download and 0.768 Megabits-per-second upload speeds. Doubling the number of 10+/0.768+ connections per 1,000 households is associated with a 2.4% decrease in operating expenses per farm operation. The paper also provides an introductory look at changes in the composition and speed thresholds of connectivity available for selected field crops over time.

**OEA Working Paper 50**
	News Release
 Text
                  Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554

  Link
        Phone: 1-888-225-5322
              ASL Video Call: 1-844-432-2275
              Fax: 1-866-418-0232
              Contact Us
              Visiting FCC Facilities

          
          Link
        Website Policies & Notices
              Privacy Policy
              FOIA
              No Fear Act Data
              Digital Strategy
              Open Government Directive
              Plain Writing Act
              RSS Feeds & Email Updates
              Accessibility
              Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
              USA.gov

          
          Text
                  CATEGORIES

  Link
        About the FCC
              Proceedings & Actions
              Licensing & Databases
              Reports & Research
              News & Events
              For Consumers

          
          Text
                  BUREAUS & OFFICES

  Link
        Consumer
              Enforcement
              Inspector General
              Media
              Public Safety
              Space
              Wireless
              Wireline
              Offices


          Twitter
        Facebook
        Youtube
        Instagram

          Federal Communications Commission