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Creates a revamped rural broadband program that provides grants, loans, and loan guarantees to build, improve, or acquire broadband facilities in rural areas. It defines program terms, sets a minimum service standard (at least 100 Mbps down / 20 Mbps up with a 100 Mbps symmetrical buildout minimum), establishes application and priority rules, limits and distributes funding, sets loan terms, and sets program deadlines. The rewritten authority takes effect October 1, 2025. The goal is to accelerate construction and upgrade of high‑speed internet in underserved rural places while using a mix of grants and repayable finance to reach construction and service targets.
Amends Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to create a program for access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants, make loans, and guarantee loans to eligible entities to fund construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.
Defines "broadband service" as any technology the Secretary identifies that can transmit data enabling a subscriber to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video.
Defines "rural area" generally as any area other than areas described in certain clauses of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and, for grants or direct loans, cities/towns with population greater than 20,000 are excluded.
Minimum acceptable service for an area to be considered "served" is terrestrial wireline or licensed wireless networks with at least 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream; Secretary will review and may adjust these levels at least once every 2 years.
Who is affected and how:
Rural residents and communities: Direct beneficiaries — improved access to higher‑speed broadband (minimum 100/20 Mbps, with many supported projects required to meet 100 Mbps symmetrical). This should expand internet availability for homes, schools, health centers, businesses, and local governments in underserved rural places.
Broadband and telecommunications providers: Eligible providers can apply for grants, loans, or loan guarantees to build or upgrade networks. Providers that win awards gain capital to fund construction but must meet program speed and buildout conditions and comply with loan repayment or grant performance obligations.
Rural entities and local governments: Local governments, cooperatives, non‑profit broadband entities, and other rural organizations that participate in deployment or partnership roles may gain funding opportunities and will need to meet application and project requirements.
Public and community institutions (schools, health centers, small businesses): Stand to gain better connectivity that supports telehealth, distance learning, economic activity, and public services. Improved speeds can enable expanded digital services.
Program administrators and federal agencies: Must implement updated rules, application windows, award prioritization, and oversight consistent with statutory definitions, funding distribution rules, and deadlines. They will issue guidance and manage compliance and reporting.
Potential benefits and tradeoffs:
Uncertainties:
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Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Randy Feenstra · Last progress May 8, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House