For Immediate Release

Carr Visits South Dakota with Senator Thune, Governor Noem, and Rep. Johnson

Focus on Rural Broadband, Precision Agriculture, 5G Jobs, and Telehealth

SIOUX FALLS, SD, May 3, 2021—This week, Commissioner Carr is visiting South Dakota for events with Senator John Thune, Governor Kristi Noem, and Congressman Dusty Johnson.  The events will focus on the FCC’s efforts to promote rural connectivity, precision agriculture, 5G jobs, and telehealth.

Today, Carr and Congressman Johnson will first visit a health care facility that received funding through the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program to discuss the impact of the pandemic on remote patient care.  They will then visit an active fiber build that will expand Internet connectivity.  After that, they will meet with customers of a small, rural wireless internet service provider to discuss the importance of connectivity for telework, remote learning, and data-intensive precision agriculture.  They will then join members of the South Dakota Telecommunications Association to discuss efforts to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet services in rural South Dakota as well as the geographical challenges of such deployment.

Tomorrow, Carr will join Governor Noem to see first-hand the impact of her work to expand Internet builds through the Governor’s ConnectSD program, which awards grants for broadband builds in the state.  Next, Carr will join Senator Thune, Congressman Johnson, and members of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, to discuss efforts to expand our nation’s 5G workforce.  Up next, Carr and Senator Thune will visit South Dakota State University’s precision agriculture center where they will learn more about how this technology is revolutionizing agricultural production and increasing rural prosperity. 

Later on Tuesday, Carr will take a walking tour of Sioux Falls to visit recently deployed 5G small cells and learn how 5G is supercharging wireless services in the area.  Carr will then see a manufacturing facility that is constructing high-altitude balloons capable of beaming high-speed Internet service from the Earth’s stratosphere.  Finally, Carr will meet with a crew of wireless infrastructure builders to discuss opportunities to expand good paying 5G jobs. 

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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr: (202) 418-2200
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr

Media Contact:  Greg Watson
(202) 418-0658 or gregory.watson@fcc.gov