LAST ACRE Act of 2025

This bill creates a “Last Acre” program to bring reliable, high-speed internet across farm fields and ranchland, not just to the farmhouse. The U.S. Department of Agriculture would give competitive grants and loans to internet providers to connect unserved or underserved agricultural land, with the goal of supporting modern “precision agriculture” tools like smart sensors and GPS-guided equipment . The program must launch within a year, and projects can’t use funds to serve nearby houses or businesses outside the farm or ranch land. Money can cover up to 80% of project costs, or up to 90% if the farmer or rancher has limited resources . Providers must follow strong cybersecurity practices, and projects have to be built within four years, with penalties if deadlines are missed .

The USDA will pick projects first for the most remote, unserved farm areas, then other unserved areas, and then underserved areas. Bids are chosen based on lowest cost to the government and the provider’s ability to meet on-farm needs. There’s a challenge process so other providers can prove an area is already served, and the USDA must post updates and annual reports. Funding is authorized for 2025–2029. The bill also directs the government to add questions to farm surveys about broadband subscriptions, speeds, and how farms use the internet, to better track progress .

• Who is affected: Farmers, ranchers, and internet providers serving agricultural land .
• What changes: New grants and loans to extend high-speed internet across fields; strict build timelines, cybersecurity rules, and a fair bidding and challenge process; priority for remote and unserved land .
• When: Program starts within 1 year of enactment; projects must finish within 4 years; funding authorized through 2029; annual reporting and data sharing continue each year .