KELLY ARMSTRONG WASHINGTON OFFICE: 1004 L ONGWORTH HOUSE O FFICE BUILDING AT-LARGE, N ORTH DAKOTA W ASHINGTON, D C 20515 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (202) 225-2611 CO MMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT & DISTRICT OFFI CES : REFORM (:ongrt!i!i of tbt Wnittb !etatt!i 3217 FIECHTNER D RIVE, S UITE 8 FARGO, N D 58103 SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE (701 I 353- 6665 CLIMATE CRISIS J!}ouse of l\epresentatibes 220 EAST ROSSER AVENUE ~asbington, 1B<! 20515 228 FEDERAL BUILDING B ISMARCK, N D 58501 (701 I 354-6700 July 19, 2019 WWW.ARMSTRONG. HOUSE. GOV Chairman Ajit Pai 511 Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: I write to express my strong support for the nomination of Mr. Barry Batcheller for a position on the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States (Task Force). Mr. Batcheller has extensive experience in precision agriculture and his perspective will enhance recommendations on methods to expand Internet connectivity on agricultural land across the country. Mr. Batcheller's career began more than forty years ago as an electrical engineer with Steiger Tractor Company in Fargo, North Dakota where he worked on a team that developed the first fully integrated computer system for agricultural equipment. He used this experience to establish Integrated Technical Systems as a wholly owned subsidiary of Steiger Tractor and founded Phoenix International Corporation (PIC) which specialized in the development of electronic control systems for agricultural and off-road vehicles. After PIC was acquired by Deere and Company, Mr. Batcheller became the Director of Technology Growth at John Deere Electronics Solutions and later founded Appareo Systems which is among the world's leading radio receiver and transponder development companies. Mr. Batcheller' s professional experience is rounded out by his service on numerous boards of including the North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park Board of Directors, the AFS Board of Directors, and the Appareo System Board of Directors. He has also been named the North Dakota Business Innovator of the Year and holds 35 U.S. Patents which are largely related to agricultural and aerospace technologies. Thank you for your consideration of Mr. Batcheller for a position on the Task Force. If you have any questions or would like to review additional information about Mr. Batcheller' s qualifications for this position, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I appreciate the mission of the Task Force and the recommendations that will benefit farmers and ranchers across the country. Si71Z t::ltrong Member of Congress P RI N T ED ON RECYCLED PAPER