Anne Conroy-Baiter,
Space Coast Chamber of Commerce

“We have a responsibility to speak clearly about what’s possible and what policies will unlock it. LEO satellite broadband is part of that future.”

Anne Conroy-Baiter, President & CEO: Space Coast Chamber of Commerce

I’ve lived all over this country, but I can tell you with certainty that the Space Coast is one of the most special places to live, as we advance in becoming the capital of launch. That distinction matters now more than ever.

When we talk about space policy and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband, we’re not just talking about abstract policy debates. We’re talking about real economic transformation happening in Floridians’ backyards. The statewide impact is $8.2 billion, but what excites me most is that the space industry is creating a real, on-the-ground workforce pipeline to support companies here in Florida. We’re seeing hundreds of millions in direct capital investment and high-wage jobs across every skill level, from trades to astronauts.

After the shuttle program shut down years ago, the Space Coast learned the hard way that diversification saves communities. Today, multiple entities like the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Space Florida, Space Coast Chamber and many others are deliberate about building that pipeline while also protecting our infrastructure and environment.

You also have to consider the tourism impact of living by a launch hub—when Artemis launches, we’re expecting 400,000 visitors and a $160 million economic impact for that one event. The economic wins of this industry aren’t theoretical anymore.

The other side of space innovation that we don’t often get to see is the results—the day-to-day wins it drives for everyday people. Without space innovation, we wouldn’t have memory foam, infrared thermometers or cordless tools. It’s also important to consider the connectivity implications of investment in space.

We often think the digital divide only impacts hyper-rural, remote areas, but that isn’t the case. I previously ran Junior Achievement of the Space Coast, a global nonprofit that focuses on socioeconomic advancement for young people, and I can tell you firsthand that the digital divide affects pockets of people everywhere. There are kids in pockets throughout our communities, even in cities, who are still connecting to schoolwork from McDonald’s parking lots. We need connectivity solutions that work everywhere high-speed internet is lacking, and space technologies like LEO satellite broadband are making a difference.

The Space Coast Chamber recently rebranded to better reflect a unified regional voice at a moment when global attention is turning toward our community. Companies everywhere from Asia to Europe are calling about our space ecosystem, and we have a responsibility to articulate both what is possible here and the policy framework needed to fully realize that opportunity.

Jacquelyne Leffler,
Leffler Prime Performance

I grew up watching my dad and grandpa work dawn to dusk. I wanted nothing to do with farming then, but agriculture is evolving and, thanks to technology, it’s not the same today as it was for my father and grandfather. Now, as a fourth-generation farmer and beef producer here in Kansas, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

While technological advancements certainly make our farm more efficient, and tools like precision sensors and GPS/autosteer-enabled machinery help take out some of the guesswork, farming still isn’t a walk in the park. Especially when so much of America’s farmland still lacks reliable internet or cell service.

It’s been only recently that Leffler farms got high-speed internet. Before then, I used to spend hours sitting in McDonald’s and Taco Bell parking lots uploading Facebook posts for my beef business – it could take me two hours to upload one five-minute video. Once, I even mailed a flash drive across state lines because it was faster than sending a file digitally.

That was just a few years ago. These aren’t exaggerations. This is how much of rural America is still operating while the rest of the world moves on.

When we finally got fiber this year, it was a game-changer. Before that, we used Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellite internet service. For so many farms in our region, especially those doing what we do, satellite connectivity is still the only option. The technology works, and it allows us to be better stewards of the land.

I can now manage my cattle business, monitor soil data, and make real-time decisions about seed and fertilizer rates all from my phone. We cover more acres, use fewer inputs, and actually get to spend more time together as a family because our jobs get done faster. That matters.

But connectivity on the farm isn’t just good business. It’s also a matter of safety. Twenty-five percent of the time we’re farming, we have zero cell service, which means we can’t call 911 if there’s an emergency. Having wifi that stretches across your property could actually save your life on the farm.

It’s not just farm properties that are impacted like this – rural, farmland communities are struggling just as much. I used to watch kids sit on library sidewalks and in parked cars late into the night to do their homework in my community because internet service either wasn’t available or wasn’t affordable for these families at home. Rural America deserves better.

I have a toddler at home, and when he grows up, I want him to have choices. I want him to grow up here with genuine opportunity. Whether he chooses to be the fifth-generation farmer or charts his own path entirely, I want technology to be an enabler, not a barrier. And I want every farm kid in America to have the same shot.

We have the tools. We have young, innovative farmers ready to lead. What we need now is affordability and accessibility that match the capability. We need rural America to be treated like the backbone of this nation that it actually is.

Jacquelyne Leffler

Owner & Operator, Leffler Prime Performance

Fourth-Generation Farmer & Rancher
Lion County (Kansas) Farm Bureau, Vice President

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