[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 120 (Monday, July 14, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3211-H3212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1510
            PRECISION AGRICULTURE SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY ACT

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1618) to require the Federal Communications Commission to review 
certain rules of the Commission and develop recommendations for rule 
changes to promote precision agriculture, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1618

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Precision Agriculture 
     Satellite Connectivity Act''.

     SEC. 2. PRECISION AGRICULTURE SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY.

       (a) Review.--The Commission shall--
       (1) review the rules of the Commission relating to fixed 
     satellite service, mobile satellite service, and earth 
     exploration satellite service to determine if there are rule 
     changes that the Commission could implement under existing 
     authority to promote precision agriculture; and
       (2) if the Commission determines under paragraph (1) that 
     there are rule changes that the Commission could implement, 
     develop recommendations for how to implement the changes.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
     review conducted under subsection (a), including any 
     recommendations developed under paragraph (2) of such 
     subsection.
       (c) Commission Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications Commission.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1618, the 
Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act, that I was pleased to 
introduce with the gentlewoman from Illinois' Second Congressional 
District (Ms. Kelly).
  For years, large parts of my district and rural areas across America 
have lacked access to fast broadband connections.
  Reliable internet access is more than just being able to stream your 
favorite TV shows and movies. It is the critical connecting link for 
all of us. Whether it is helping our seniors access telehealth services 
or allowing students to complete homework assignments or enabling small 
businesses to reach global markets, our people, country, and economy 
run on a reliable internet connection.
  Farmers in rural Ohio also know that reliable broadband connections 
are essential to their operations. After all, it helps deploy 
technologies that increase productivity, produce higher yields, and 
minimize operating costs.
  Today's smart agriculture technology, from autonomous tractors to 
distributed soil sensors, rely on internet connections to share data.
  In fact, farmers use information in real time to make smarter 
decisions on how to optimize inputs and whether and when to plant or 
harvest. When terrestrial or cellular networks are not available, 
satellite broadband steps in to make these technologies work.
  However, it is not just advanced satellite broadband capabilities 
that improve precision agriculture. Earth-imaging satellites also 
provide important information which helps farmers and ranchers identify 
visual trends that may require immediate attention.
  In order to ensure our regulations maximize these opportunities, our 
bill would require the FCC to look at its current satellite rules to 
determine if rural changes can be made to promote precision 
agriculture.
  I am committed to ensuring our farmers have the tools at their 
disposal to help increase productivity while minimizing costs. This 
legislation is a good step forward in that mission.
  I thank the chairman of the full committee for bringing this 
legislation to the floor and working with us.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1618, the Precision 
Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act.
  The innovations we are seeing in the commercial satellite industry 
have the

[[Page H3212]]

potential to transform so many aspects of daily life, especially for 
those in more rural and remote areas.
  For years, Americans have relied on satellites for a variety of 
services, including global positioning systems, GPS, and radio and 
television. But within the last decade, satellite capabilities have 
become more sophisticated and are now being woven into the fabric of 
our mobile networks. With these advancements, mobile consumers now have 
even greater connectivity and the comfort of knowing they can reach 
first responders and loved ones in a time of need, no matter where they 
may be.
  The satellite evolution is also touching American farms by 
facilitating advancements in precision agriculture. H.R. 1618 promotes 
the innovation of satellite technology for precision agriculture, which 
uses satellite images to help farmers yield better crops and maximize 
their yield profitability.
  The legislation directs the FCC to review its satellite service rules 
to assess whether there are any rule changes that could better enable 
satellites to deliver precision agriculture solutions.
  If the FCC finds that changes are necessary, the bill requires the 
FCC to develop recommendations for implementing them. It also instructs 
the FCC to report its findings to Congress, including any 
recommendations.
  I thank Representatives Kelly and Latta for their bipartisan work on 
this bill. With this legislation, we ensure that the FCC and its 
satellite rules are enabling technological advancements in the 
important area of precision agriculture as much as possible.
  Mr. Speaker, this is important to the farm community, and it shows 
the efforts that can be made with satellites for precision agriculture. 
I think it is important.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, because I 
know across my district--I have one of the largest farm income-
producing districts in the State of Ohio--our farmers rely on this 
technology. It is very important that the FCC looks at what they can do 
to help promote agriculture across this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1618, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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