S3084-119

2. Access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended— by striking subsections (a) through (f) and inserting the following: The purpose of this section is to provide assistance in the form of grants, loans, and combinations of grants and loans for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas. In this section: The term broadband service means any technology identified by the Secretary as having the capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video. The term rural area means any area other than— an area described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)); and a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants. The Secretary may, by regulation only, consider an area described in section 343(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of that Act to not be a rural area for purposes of this section. The term rural area does not include any population described in subparagraph (H) or (I) of section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)). The Secretary shall make grants, loans, and combinations of grants and loans to eligible entities described in subsection (d) to provide funds for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in rural areas. To be eligible for a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under paragraph (1), in addition to the requirements of subsection (d), the project that is the subject of the grant, loan, or grant and loan combination shall— provide broadband service of at least— a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity; and subject to paragraph (4), be carried out in a proposed service territory in which at least 75 percent of the households lack access to broadband service of at least— a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity. In making grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under paragraph (1), the Secretary— shall give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service in a proposed service territory in which at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service of at least— a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity; and may give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service— in proposed service territories— with a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents; that are experiencing outmigration and have adopted a strategic community investment plan under section 379H(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)) that includes considerations for improving and expanding broadband service; with a high percentage of low-income families or persons (as defined in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471(b))); or that are isolated from other significant population centers; that would provide rapid and expanded deployment of fixed and mobile broadband service on cropland and ranchland within the service territory for use in various applications of precision agriculture; or submitted by an eligible entity that has provided broadband service or other utility service for not less than 5 years in rural areas in the State in which the project would be carried out. To be eligible for assistance under paragraph (1) in the form of a grant only, in addition to the requirements of subsection (d)— an entity shall be— a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); a colonia; a persistent poverty county, as determined by the Secretary; or a socially vulnerable community, as determined by the Secretary; or the project that is the subject of the grant shall be carried out in a proposed service territory in which at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service of at least— a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity. To be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under subsection (c), an entity shall— submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; agree to complete buildout of the broadband infrastructure described in the application by not later than 5 years after the initial date on which assistance under subsection (c) is made available; and participate or agree to participate in— the Lifeline program under subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); or any successor Federal internet affordability assistance program. An entity eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under subsection (c) may include— a State or local government, including any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision of a State or local government; a territory or possession of the United States; an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); a cooperative or mutual organization; an organization of 2 or more incorporated areas that have established an intermunicipal legal agreement for the purpose of delivering communication services to residents; a corporation; and a limited liability company or limited liability partnership. An individual or legal general partnership that is formed with individuals shall not be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under subsection (c). An eligible entity described in this paragraph that provides telecommunications or broadband service to at least 20 percent of the households in the United States may not receive an amount of funds under this section for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized and appropriated under subsection (i) for the fiscal year. A State or an agency or instrumentality of a State may not, in total, receive an amount of funds under this section for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized and appropriated under subsection (i) for the fiscal year. An entity to which a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination is made under subsection (c) shall not use the grant, loan, or grant and loan combination to deploy broadband service in a service area in which broadband service is deployed by any other entity that has received a broadband grant or loan from the Rural Utilities Service, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Communications Commission, or a State broadband grant program, unless the service provided by the other entity does not provide to at least 75 percent of the households in the service area access to broadband service of at least— a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity. The Secretary may require an entity to provide a cost share in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the amount of the grant (including the grant in a grant and loan combination) under subsection (c) requested in the application of the entity. The Secretary may waive the cost share requirement under subparagraph (A) for entities or projects described in subsection (c)(4). The Secretary may provide to eligible entities described in paragraph (1) that are applying for assistance under this section for a project described in subsection (c)(3)(A) technical assistance and training— to prepare reports and surveys necessary to request grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under this section for broadband deployment; to improve management, including financial management, relating to the proposed broadband deployment; to prepare applications for grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under this section; or to assist with other areas of need identified by the Secretary. Not less than 3 percent and not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be used for technical assistance and training under this paragraph. Subject to paragraph (2), for purposes of this section, the minimum acceptable level of broadband service for a rural area shall be at least— a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity. At least once every 2 years, the Secretary shall review, and may adjust through notice published in the Federal Register, the minimum acceptable level of broadband service established under paragraph (1) and broadband buildout requirements under paragraph (3) to ensure that high-quality, cost-effective broadband service is provided to rural areas over time. In this paragraph, the term broadband buildout requirement means the level of internet service an applicant receiving assistance under this section must agree, at the time the application is finalized, to provide for the duration of any project-related agreement between the applicant and the Department. The Secretary shall establish broadband buildout requirements that— utilize the same metrics used to define the minimum acceptable level of broadband service under paragraph (1); and reasonably ensure— the repayment of all loans; and the financed network is technically capable of providing broadband service for the lifetime of any project-related agreement. If an applicant shows that it would be cost prohibitive to meet the broadband buildout requirements established under this paragraph for the entirety of a proposed service territory due to the unique characteristics of the proposed service territory, the Secretary and the applicant may agree to utilize substitute standards for any unserved portion of the project. Any substitute service standards described in clause (i) should continue to consider the best technology available to meet the needs of the residents in the unserved area. by redesignating subsections (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)— in the subsection heading, by striking Loans and Loan Guarantees.— and inserting Loans.—; and in paragraph (1)— in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking or loan guarantee; and in subparagraph (A)— by striking clause (ii); by striking Secretary— in the matter preceding clause (i) and all that follows through in the case in the matter preceding subclause (I) of clause (i) and inserting Secretary in the case; and by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking or loan guarantee each place it appears; in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), in paragraph (1), by striking 1974) and inserting 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a)); and by striking subsections (j) and (k) and inserting the following: There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsections (a) through (h) $650,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended. Not more than 5 percent of the amounts made available under paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be available to the Secretary for the administration of subsections (a) through (h). There is rescinded the unobligated balance of amounts made available to carry out section 779 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141; 132 Stat. 399). On the day after the execution of the rescission in subparagraph (A), there is appropriated to the Secretary, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount equal to the amount rescinded in subparagraph (A), to carry out subsections (a) through (h), to remain available until expended. The Secretary may provide direct loans in accordance with the requirements under this section, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended. No grant, loan, or grant and loan combination may be made under this section after September 30, 2030. Beginning on the date that is 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, section 779 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141; 132 Stat. 399), shall have no force or effect. (a)PurposeThe purpose of this section is to provide assistance in the form of grants, loans, and combinations of grants and loans for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.(b)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Broadband serviceThe term broadband service means any technology identified by the Secretary as having the capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video.(2)Rural area(A)In generalThe term rural area means any area other than—(i)an area described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)); and(ii)a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants.(B)Urban area growthThe Secretary may, by regulation only, consider an area described in section 343(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of that Act to not be a rural area for purposes of this section.(C)Exclusion of certain populationsThe term rural area does not include any population described in subparagraph (H) or (I) of section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)).(c)Grants, loans, and combinations(1)In generalThe Secretary shall make grants, loans, and combinations of grants and loans to eligible entities described in subsection (d) to provide funds for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in rural areas.(2)Project eligibilityTo be eligible for a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under paragraph (1), in addition to the requirements of subsection (d), the project that is the subject of the grant, loan, or grant and loan combination shall—(A)provide broadband service of at least—(i)a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and(ii)a 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity; and(B)subject to paragraph (4), be carried out in a proposed service territory in which at least 75 percent of the households lack access to broadband service of at least—(i)a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and(ii)a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.(3)PriorityIn making grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under paragraph (1), the Secretary—(A)shall give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service in a proposed service territory in which at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service of at least—(i)a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and(ii)a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity; and(B)may give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service—(i)in proposed service territories—(I)with a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents;(II)that are experiencing outmigration and have adopted a strategic community investment plan under section 379H(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)) that includes considerations for improving and expanding broadband service;(III)with a high percentage of low-income families or persons (as defined in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471(b))); or(IV)that are isolated from other significant population centers;(ii)that would provide rapid and expanded deployment of fixed and mobile broadband service on cropland and ranchland within the service territory for use in various applications of precision agriculture; or(iii)submitted by an eligible entity that has provided broadband service or other utility service for not less than 5 years in rural areas in the State in which the project would be carried out.(4)Additional requirements for grant-only awardsTo be eligible for assistance under paragraph (1) in the form of a grant only, in addition to the requirements of subsection (d)—(A)an entity shall be—(i)a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));(ii)a colonia;(iii)a persistent poverty county, as determined by the Secretary; or(iv)a socially vulnerable community, as determined by the Secretary; or(B)the project that is the subject of the grant shall be carried out in a proposed service territory in which at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service of at least—(i)a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and(ii)a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.(d)Eligibility(1)Eligible entities(A)In generalTo be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under subsection (c), an entity shall—(i)submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require;(ii)agree to complete buildout of the broadband infrastructure described in the application by not later than 5 years after the initial date on which assistance under subsection (c) is made available; and(iii)participate or agree to participate in—(I)the Lifeline program under subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); or(II)any successor Federal internet affordability assistance program.(B)InclusionsAn entity eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under subsection (c) may include—(i)a State or local government, including any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision of a State or local government;(ii)a territory or possession of the United States;(iii)an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));(iv)a cooperative or mutual organization;(v)an organization of 2 or more incorporated areas that have established an intermunicipal legal agreement for the purpose of delivering communication services to residents;(vi)a corporation; and(vii)a limited liability company or limited liability partnership.(C)Ineligible entitiesAn individual or legal general partnership that is formed with individuals shall not be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under subsection (c).(D)Limitation(i)In generalAn eligible entity described in this paragraph that provides telecommunications or broadband service to at least 20 percent of the households in the United States may not receive an amount of funds under this section for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized and appropriated under subsection (i) for the fiscal year.(ii)States and State agencies and instrumentalitiesA State or an agency or instrumentality of a State may not, in total, receive an amount of funds under this section for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized and appropriated under subsection (i) for the fiscal year.(E)Previous awardsAn entity to which a grant, loan, or grant and loan combination is made under subsection (c) shall not use the grant, loan, or grant and loan combination to deploy broadband service in a service area in which broadband service is deployed by any other entity that has received a broadband grant or loan from the Rural Utilities Service, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Communications Commission, or a State broadband grant program, unless the service provided by the other entity does not provide to at least 75 percent of the households in the service area access to broadband service of at least—(i)a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and(ii)a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.(2)Equity requirements(A)In generalThe Secretary may require an entity to provide a cost share in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the amount of the grant (including the grant in a grant and loan combination) under subsection (c) requested in the application of the entity.(B)WaiverThe Secretary may waive the cost share requirement under subparagraph (A) for entities or projects described in subsection (c)(4).(3)Technical assistance and training(A)In generalThe Secretary may provide to eligible entities described in paragraph (1) that are applying for assistance under this section for a project described in subsection (c)(3)(A) technical assistance and training—(i)to prepare reports and surveys necessary to request grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under this section for broadband deployment;(ii)to improve management, including financial management, relating to the proposed broadband deployment;(iii)to prepare applications for grants, loans, and grant and loan combinations under this section; or(iv)to assist with other areas of need identified by the Secretary.(B)FundingNot less than 3 percent and not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be used for technical assistance and training under this paragraph.(e)Broadband service(1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), for purposes of this section, the minimum acceptable level of broadband service for a rural area shall be at least—(A)a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and(B)a 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.(2)AdjustmentsAt least once every 2 years, the Secretary shall review, and may adjust through notice published in the Federal Register, the minimum acceptable level of broadband service established under paragraph (1) and broadband buildout requirements under paragraph (3) to ensure that high-quality, cost-effective broadband service is provided to rural areas over time.(3)Broadband buildout requirements(A)Definition of broadband buildout requirementIn this paragraph, the term broadband buildout requirement means the level of internet service an applicant receiving assistance under this section must agree, at the time the application is finalized, to provide for the duration of any project-related agreement between the applicant and the Department.(B)Establishment of broadband buildout requirementsThe Secretary shall establish broadband buildout requirements that—(i)utilize the same metrics used to define the minimum acceptable level of broadband service under paragraph (1); and(ii)reasonably ensure—(I)the repayment of all loans; and(II)the financed network is technically capable of providing broadband service for the lifetime of any project-related agreement.(C)Substitute service standards for unique service territories(i)In generalIf an applicant shows that it would be cost prohibitive to meet the broadband buildout requirements established under this paragraph for the entirety of a proposed service territory due to the unique characteristics of the proposed service territory, the Secretary and the applicant may agree to utilize substitute standards for any unserved portion of the project.(ii)RequirementAny substitute service standards described in clause (i) should continue to consider the best technology available to meet the needs of the residents in the unserved area.; (i)Funding(1)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsections (a) through (h) $650,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.(2)AdministrationNot more than 5 percent of the amounts made available under paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be available to the Secretary for the administration of subsections (a) through (h).(3)Direct funding(A)RescissionThere is rescinded the unobligated balance of amounts made available to carry out section 779 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141; 132 Stat. 399).(B)Direct fundingOn the day after the execution of the rescission in subparagraph (A), there is appropriated to the Secretary, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount equal to the amount rescinded in subparagraph (A), to carry out subsections (a) through (h), to remain available until expended.(j)Additional rural broadband program loans(1)In generalThe Secretary may provide direct loans in accordance with the requirements under this section, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025.(2)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.(k)Termination of authorityNo grant, loan, or grant and loan combination may be made under this section after September 30, 2030..