Introductory Statement on S. 4438

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Legislation
Chamber: Senate
Date: April 29, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

People mentioned: Durbin, Richard J.
Bills and resolutions: S. 4438 (119th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Readable version of the official text

By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.

Markey, Ms. Klobuchar, and Ms. Duckworth):

S. 4438. A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program to make grants available to States to inform individuals of potential eligibility for the Lifeline program of the Commission, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be

printed in the Record, as follows:

S. 4438

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Promoting Access to

Broadband Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. LIFELINE ENROLLMENT OUTREACH GRANTS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Commission.—The term “Commission” means the Federal

Communications Commission.

(2) Covered individual.—The term “covered individual”

means an individual who—

(A) is an eligible-but-not-enrolled individual; or

(B) has the potential to be a qualifying low-income

consumer under 54.409 of title 47, Code of Federal

Regulations, or any successor regulation, due to the

eligibility of the individual, a dependent of the individual,

or the household of the individual to receive benefits from

or participate in, as applicable, a program described in such

section 54.409.

(3) Eligible-but-not-enrolled individual.—The term

“eligible-but-not-enrolled individual” means an individual

who is a qualifying low-income consumer under section 54.409

of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor

regulation, but is not enrolled in the Lifeline program.

(4) Indian tribe.—The term “Indian Tribe” has the

meaning given the term “Indian tribe” in section 4 of the

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act

of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).

(5) Lifeline program.—The term “Lifeline program” means

the program set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47,

Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

(6) Reach.—The term “reach” means, with respect to an

individual, to inform the individual of potential eligibility

for the Lifeline program and to provide the individual with

information about the Lifeline program, as described in

subsection (e).

(7) State.—The term “State” means each State of the

United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,

territory, or possession of the United States, and each

Indian Tribe.

(b) Establishment.—The Commission shall establish a

competitive program to make grants available to States to

inform covered individuals of potential eligibility for the

Lifeline program.

(1) In general.—The Commission may only award a grant

under this section to a State that submits an application at

such time, in such form, and with such information and

assurances as the Commission may require.

(2) Matters required to be included.—An application

submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) the number of covered individuals in the State;

(B) a plan for the activities that the State will conduct

using grant funds, including a list of each agency within the

State that will assist in carrying out those activities; and

enrolled individuals in the State who will be reached by

those activities.

(d) Selection.—

(1) Minimum number of states.—The Commission shall award

grants under this section to not fewer than 25 percent of the

States that submit an application under subsection (c).

(2) Factors for consideration.—In awarding grants under

this section, the Commission shall give favorable

consideration to—

(A) States that have higher numbers of covered individuals;

and

(B) States proposing, in the plans submitted under

subsection (c)(2)(B), to conduct activities that have the

potential to reach higher percentages of eligible-but-not-

enrolled individuals in those States, as determined by the

Commission, taking into consideration the estimates submitted

under subsection (c)(2)(C).

(3) Geographic diversity.—In awarding grants under this

section, the Commission shall, to the maximum extent

practicable, select States from different geographic regions

of the United States.

(e) Use of Funds.—

(1) In general.—A State that receives a grant under this

section shall use grant funds, in accordance with the plan

included in the application of the State under subsection

(c)(2)(B), to—

(A) inform covered individuals and organizations or

agencies that serve covered individuals, as the case may be

under the terms of the grant awarded to the State, of

potential eligibility for the Lifeline program;

(B) provide covered individuals with information about the

Lifeline program, including—

(i) how to apply for the Lifeline program; and

(ii) a description of the prohibition on more than 1

subscriber in each household receiving a service provided

under the Lifeline program; and

organizations that have a proven track record of working with

covered individuals in implementing digital inclusion

initiatives to provide covered individuals with—

(i) assistance applying for the Lifeline program; and

(ii) information about product and technology choices.

(2) Multiple state agencies.—A State that receives a grant

under this section may provide grant funds to 1 or more

agencies located within the State, as identified under

subsection (c)(2)(B), to carry out the activities under the

grant.

(f) Outreach to States Regarding Grant Program.—Before

accepting applications for the grant program established

under this section, the Commission shall conduct outreach to

States to ensure that States are aware of the grant program

and how to apply for a grant under the grant program.

(g) Regulations Required.—Not later than 30 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall

promulgate regulations to implement this section.

(h) Enforcement.—

(1) In general.—A violation of this section or a

regulation promulgated under this section shall be treated as

a violation of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151

et seq.) or a regulation promulgated under that Act.

(2) Manner of enforcement.—The Commission shall enforce

this section and the regulations promulgated under this

section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the

same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all

applicable terms and provisions of the Communications Act of

1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) were incorporated into and made

a part of this section.

(i) Exemptions.—

(1) Certain rulemaking requirements.—Section 553 of title

5, United States Code, shall not apply to a regulation

promulgated under this section or a rulemaking proceeding to

promulgate such a regulation.

(2) Paperwork reduction act requirements.—A collection of

information conducted or sponsored under the regulations

required under this section shall not constitute a collection

of information for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 35

of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the

“Paperwork Reduction Act”).

(j) Report to Congress.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 3 years after establishing

the grant program under this section, the Commission shall

submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of

the grant program.

(2) Contents.—The report submitted under paragraph (1)

shall include—

(A) the number of individuals notified of Lifeline program

eligibility by States receiving grants under this section;

(B) the number of new applicants to the Lifeline program

from States receiving grants under this section, including

the number of those applicants who enrolled in the Lifeline

program; and

under this section.

(k) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized

to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be

necessary to carry out this section for the first 5 full

fiscal years beginning after the establishment of the grant

program under this section.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO STATES TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL LIFELINE

ELIGIBILITY VERIFIER.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Commission.—The term “Commission” means the Federal

Communications Commission.

(2) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means a

State that, not later than 30 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, submits to the Commission an

application for a grant under this section containing such

information as the Commission may require.

(3) State.—The term “State” means each State of the

United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,

territory, or possession of the United States, and each

federally recognized Indian Tribe.

(b) Establishment.—Not later than 90 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a

program to provide a grant, from amounts appropriated under

subsection (e), to each eligible entity for the purpose

described in subsection (c).

eligible entity for the purpose of establishing, renewing,

reestablishing, or maintaining or amending a connection

between the databases of the eligible entity that contain

information concerning the receipt by a household, or a

member of a household, of benefits under a program

administered by the eligible entity (including any benefit

provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program

under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et

seq.)) and the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier so that

the receipt by a household, or a member of a household, of

benefits under the benefits program—

(1) is reflected in the National Lifeline Eligibility

Verifier; and

(2) can be used to verify eligibility for the Lifeline

program set forth in subpart E, part 54, of title 47, Code of

Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

(d) Disbursement of Grant Funds.—Not later than 120 days

after the date on which the Commission establishes the

program under subsection (b), funds provided under each grant

made under that subsection shall be disbursed to the eligible

entity receiving the grant.

(e) Authorization of Appropriation.—There is authorized to

be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out

this section.

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There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be

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