Bridging the Digital Divide: Rural Broadband, Cooperative Leadership, and Connectivity in the American Heartland

Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury in rural America — it’s essential for work, education, and quality of life. Yet roughly one-quarter of Americans living in rural communities still face significant connectivity gaps, disproportionately affecting farmers and small-town residents across the U.S.In this episode of Rooted In Tomorrow, host Kim Olson sits down with Chakravarthy Sankaraiah, Director of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence at Land O’Lakes, Inc., and Pat Lunemann, a Land O’Lakes farmer-owner participating in a pilot program to expand rural broadband access. Together, they explore how cooperative partnerships, internet providers, and local stakeholders are working to bridge the digital divide, enabling rural communities to thrive in an increasingly connected world.Listeners will gain insight into how data-driven solutions, cooperative leadership, and targeted pilot programs are transforming connectivity in the American Heartland, strengthening rural economies, and improving the lives of farmers and their communities.Something Greater has changed its name to Rooted In Tomorrow. The podcast name change is effective April 2022. Subscribers will not need to resubscribe. Push alerts will remain for those who have subscribed through Apple Podcasts. Search for, "Rooted In Tomorrow" by Land O'Lakes, Inc. on all your podcast platforms. "Something Greater" will no longer be searchable content effective May 2022. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers!Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at:Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesIncInstagram: @LandOLakesIncLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.comAnimal Nutrition: www.purinamills.comCrop Protection: www.winfieldunited.comSustainability: www.truterraag.comauthenci.com