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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit against tax for the purchase of communications signal boosters in areas with inadequate broadband internet access service, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill creates a new tax credit that allows individuals to claim a refundable credit equal to 75 percent of the cost of purchasing broadband signal boosters and related satellite equipment, with a maximum credit of $400 per taxable year. The credit applies only to equipment purchased for use in principal residences located in unserved rural areas as defined by the Federal Communications Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The credit can be claimed only once by each taxpayer and expires after December 31, 2029.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
5 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- Feb 5, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. · house
- Feb 5, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2025
Mr. Moolenaar (for himself, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Huizenga, and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit against tax for the purchase of communications signal boosters in areas with inadequate broadband internet access service, and for other purposes.
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 “Broadening Online Opportunities through Simple Technologies Act” or the “BOOST Act”.
SEC. 2. BROADBAND INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS SIGNAL BOOSTER CREDIT.
(a) In General.—Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting before section 37 the following new section:
“SEC. 36C. BROADBAND INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS SIGNAL BOOSTER CREDIT.
“(a) In General.—In the case of an individual who elects the application of this section, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to 75 percent of so much of the qualified signal booster expenditures of the taxpayer for the taxable year as does not exceed $400.
“(b) Qualified Signal Booster Expenditures.—For purposes of this section—
“(1) In general.—The term ‘qualified signal booster expenditures’ means amounts paid or incurred by the taxpayer for the purchase of—
“(A) any communications signal booster,
“(B) any customer premises equipment for use with satellite networks, and
“(C) any ground station equipment to send and receive transmissions from satellite networks, for use by the taxpayer in a principal residence (within the meaning of section 121) of the taxpayer which is located in an unserved area.
“(2) Communications signal booster.—The term ‘communications signal booster’ means a device the first use of which is with the taxpayer and that receives a wireless signal, or a commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401)) signal—
“(A) in order to increase the strength or range of such signal, and
“(B) in connection with retransmitting a broadband internet access service signal.
“(3) Unserved area.—The term ‘unserved area’ means an area eligible for funding under phase 1 or phase 2 of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund established by the Federal Communications Commission in the Report and Order in the matter of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and Connect America Fund that was adopted by the Commission on January 30, 2020 (FCC 20-5).
“(4) Broadband internet access service.—The term ‘broadband internet access service’ has the meaning given such term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
“(c) Credit Allowed for Only 1 Taxable Year.—An election by the taxpayer to have this section apply may not be made for any taxable year if such an election is in effect for the taxpayer for any preceding taxable year.
“(d) Regulations and Guidance.—The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission, prescribe such regulations, and provide such other guidance, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section including a program for persons engaged in the trade or business of selling communications signal boosters, or any other equipment described in subsection (b)(1), to voluntarily report any such sale in an unserved area.
“(e) Termination.—This section shall not apply to any amounts paid or incurred in any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2029.”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting before the item relating to section 26 the following new item:
“Sec. 36C. Broadband Internet communications signal booster credit.”.
(c) Conforming Amendment.—Section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting “36C,” after “36B,”.
(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. <all>
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