SIA President Tom Stroup Testifies Before House Committee on Agriculture Regarding the Role of Satellites in Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural America

Washington, D.C., June 21, 2023 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today testified on the importance of satellite connectivity before the House Committee on Agriculture hearing titled “Closing the Digital Divide in Rural America.” SIA President Tom Stroup provided testimony on behalf of the Association.

“Americans without highspeed internet access are slipping further behind as more and more aspects of American society are conducted online… and too many communities are on the wrong side of the divide,” said Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) during the Hearing’s opening remarks. While emphasizing the critical and bi-partisan importance of bringing reliable connectivity to every part of rural America, Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) added, “Broadband is now an integral part of our daily lives, but most areas of rural America go without broadband and that must change now.”

“Satellite communication services are transforming the operation of our nation’s farms and ranches,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “Satellites, unlike terrestrial communications, deliver a range of unique and reliable ubiquitous attributes that benefit our nation’s farmers. In addition to satellite supported telehealth, GPS equipped autonomous farm vehicles and remote sensing-enabled precision farming services, recent innovations have made the delivery of high quality, high-speed broadband, and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity available to rural America everywhere and everyone – helping to close the digital divide across the United States.”

During the hearing, Mr. Stroup was joined by fellow witnesses which included the Honorable Jim Matheson, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, James Assey, Executive Vice President, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, David Zumwalt, President and Chief Executive Officer, WISPA – Broadband Without Borders, Bill Hurley, Chair, Agriculture Sector Board, Association of Equipment Manufacturers and Shirley Bloomfield, Chief Executive Officer, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association.

A written copy of SIA’s complete testimony is available at the following link: https://sia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Testimony23-SIA-Agriculture-Committee-Testimony-June-21st-FINAL.pdf

A video copy of the hearing is available on the House Committee on Agriculture Youtube channel at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L87r9OpBgZg

About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: Amazon; The Boeing Company; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; HawkEye 360; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman; OneWeb; Planet Labs PBC; SES Americom, Inc.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc.  SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; The Aerospace Corporation; Artel, LLC; AST Space Mobile; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Aurora Insight; Comtech; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo; Lynk; Omnispace; OneWeb Technologies; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Skyloom; Telesat Canada; ULA and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: ARA; ATG; Digital Locations, Inc.; DLA Piper; EVONA; Genus Group; Hogan Lovells; Integrasys LLC; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orange Business; Orbital Research; Peraton; Plexus Corp; SD Government; Sheppard Mullin and Wiley