News and ViewsAugust 14, 2024

Missouri Agriculture Business Thrives With Rural Broadband Access

Both Kyle Allen and Shane Myers grew up on farms and worked in the agriculture industry before teaming up to start Gateway Precision Ag. Their business helps a new generation of farmers bring modern technology to manage crop production.

The high-tech approach includes everything from sending real-time data to a computer display in a tractor, to using software to help farmers know when, where and how to plant crops. This kind of precision agriculture enables farmers to use upgraded technology and equipment to increase speed, accuracy and yield, which in turn helps maximize profits.

Gateway Precision Ag became a Spectrum small business customer in October 2023 in Hawk Point, Missouri, population 700, as part of Spectrum’s approximately $9 billion multi-year subsidized Rural Construction Initiative.

“Not only is the Spectrum Internet product amazingly fast, it’s also reliable, and that makes a huge difference in how we serve our customers. I can’t imagine doing what we do today without high-speed internet.”
Shane Myers, Co-Owner of Gateway Precision Ag

The high-tech approach includes sending real time data to a computer display in a farmer’s tractor

A screen display shown inside a modern farm tractor — The high-tech approach includes sending real time data to a computer display in a farmer’s tractor

Before having Spectrum Internet, Kyle and Shane said the geese were faster than their previous setup. When their internet went down, the operation was paralyzed. Kyle pointed out their business wouldn’t be the same without reliable, high-speed internet. And now with Spectrum Internet – and its 100% US-based customer service team – Kyle and Shane say they are ready for the future with whatever changes technology brings to their industry.

Rural Expansion Benefits Residents and Small Businesses

Gateway Precision Ag is just one small business to benefit from the company’s rural expansion in the coming years.

Charter’s multi-year subsidized Rural Construction Initiative is an investment of approximately $9 billion – a portion of which is offset by more than $2 billion in government support funding – that will ultimately connect approximately 1.75 million new homes and small businesses across the country. With 295,000 new locations activated in 2023 and an additional approximately 450,000 new locations expected to be activated in 2024, Charter is already making great progress on this rural initiative.

To learn more about Charter’s commitment to expanding broadband access, click here.