The LAST ACRE Act of 2023 creates a new federal program to bring high-speed broadband internet to rural farmland that currently lacks adequate connectivity. The program will provide grants and loans to broadband providers to deliver internet service capable of at least 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload speeds to unserved and underserved agricultural land, enabling farmers to use precision agriculture technologies like soil sensors, drones, and automated irrigation systems. The federal government will cover up to 80 percent of project costs, or up to 90 percent for small farmers with limited resources, with farmers and broadband providers covering the remaining costs. The bill prioritizes projects in remote areas and requires providers to complete buildout within four years while maintaining cybersecurity protections. Additionally, the bill directs the Agriculture Department to improve data collection on broadband adoption among farmers and requires annual reporting to Congress on program outcomes.
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