Land O’Lakes CEO: Rural America is the new inner city

While the urban world is talking about the power and promise of 5G, much of rural America is still having trouble getting online. While the Federal Communications has launched the Rural Digital Opportunites Fund,  Land O’Lakes Chief Executive Beth Ford said, “It’s not that that’s nothing. I mean, that’s real money. But it’s inadequate. And then I meet constantly with governors, and they’re putting something -- 10 million in the budget or 20 million... And it feels like we’re in the couch looking for the quarters and nickels. And that’s not going to get us there. It is going to make us uncompetitive as a nation. We cannot just leave these communities behind.”

Speaking of rural America she said, “What they’re looking for is an understanding that their communities and their families deserve and need investment. That’s why I say rural America is the new inner city, and no fresh food access, no medical access.. that is very problematic and we should all be concerned about that — not just people in rural areas,” she added.