Sponsors (5)
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Randy Feenstra · Last progress May 8, 2025
The bill directs predictable funding, technical support, and long-term loans to bring 100 Mbps symmetrical broadband to rural and unserved communities, but requires substantial local cost‑sharing, enforces strict build and timing rules, caps provider participation, and sunsets after FY2030—boosting connectivity for many while creating financing, feasibility, and timing risks for the hardest‑to‑serve areas.
Rural households will gain access to at least 100 Mbps symmetrical broadband, improving internet speeds for work, education, and telehealth.
Communities that currently lack any reliable broadband (smaller and unserved areas) are prioritized, increasing the likelihood they receive new high‑speed service.
States, local governments, tribes, and nonprofits can get funding and technical assistance to support community‑led deployments, with multi‑year appropriations providing predictable funding for projects.
Applicants must cover at least 25% of project costs and cannot combine these grants with other federal or state broadband grants, increasing local cost burdens and financing complexity.
Strict buildout, performance (100 Mbps symmetrical), and 5‑year completion requirements may be costly or infeasible in very remote or tribal areas without waivers, risking unbuilt or unaffordable projects.
Program funding and authority to make grants/loans expire after FY2030 (no awards after Sept 30, 2030), limiting long‑term support and creating uncertainty for projects that need multi‑decade planning.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes USDA grants, loans, and loan guarantees to build or upgrade rural broadband delivering at least 100 Mbps symmetrical to each rural household.
Creates a USDA rural broadband program that authorizes grants, loans, and loan guarantees to build, improve, or acquire broadband facilities and equipment in rural areas. The program requires at least 100 Mbps symmetrical service to each rural household (or a higher speed the Secretary sets), uses a single application process with combined grant/loan options, and requires approval or denial of applications within 30 days. The program sets a multi-factor priority system that favors unserved areas, projects reaching the most households, experienced in-state providers, and proposals seeking relatively less grant funding.