Grange Strongly Supports FCC 5G Order to Improve Small Cell Approval Process

Washington, D.C. – [September 4, 2018] – Betsy Huber, President of the National Grange, made the following statement in response to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr’s September 4 announcement regarding the FCC’s next 5G order on the small-cell approval process:

“Commissioner Carr’s announcement of the FCC’s latest 5G order in Indianapolis today—to break down deployment barriers, streamline the approval process for small cells and make the process more cost-efficient—is welcome news to America’s agricultural communities. Small cells are the building blocks of the 5G network that will help improve the power of and access to high-speed Internet for these communities, and help farmers and ranchers from across the nation operate more efficiently and better deliver their products to market.

“Our members and affiliates are encouraged by and grateful for the FCC’s commitment to making sure all communities—not just large cities and suburbs—have access to powerful 5G technology. By encouraging municipalities to deploy small cells—and making it easier for them to do so—the Commission will help stimulate billions of dollars’ worth of broadband investment.

“Not only will this help create tens of thousands of jobs and save billions in fees, it will also more quickly deliver this cutting-edge technology to rural and agricultural communities—and with it, its many benefits, from local job creation and economic growth to better access to educational, health care, and other services, to improved public safety.

“We congratulate the Commission for their hard work on this issue, and look forward to working with Commissioner Carr and others at the FCC to ensure rural and agricultural communities can access the same powerful technologies as their urban and suburban counterparts.”