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Rural Broadband Assistance Act
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide technical assistance to expand access to broadband service in rural communities.
Summary
The bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a Broadband Technical Assistance Program administered by the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary would award grants to nonprofit, private, and public organizations to help rural communities access federal broadband programs by providing technical assistance and training. Assistance would include helping entities prepare grant applications, conduct feasibility studies, identify financing sources, and collect infrastructure data. Eligible recipients of assistance include tribal governments, state and local governments, educational institutions, nonprofits, cooperatives, and corporations. Organizations with prior experience providing technical assistance to rural entities would receive priority for grants.
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)
2 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- Apr 30, 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. · house
- Apr 30, 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
April 30, 2025
Mr. Taylor (for himself and Mr. Sorensen) introduced the following bill; which was 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
A BILL
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide technical assistance to expand access to broadband service in rural communities.
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 “Rural Broadband Assistance Act”.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC NOTICE, ASSESSMENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Section 701 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950cc) is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by inserting “technical assistance,” before “and”; and
(2) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
“(e) Broadband Technical Assistance Program.—
“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall make grants to private, nonprofit, or public organizations to provide or receive eligible entities broadband technical assistance and training to expand access to broadband service in rural communities through the broadband programs of the Department of Agriculture including—
“(A) preparing applications for grants, loans and loan guarantees under this section;
“(B) identifying resources to finance broadband facilities from public and private sources, including other Federal agencies;
“(C) preparing feasibility studies, financial forecasts, market surveys, environmental studies, and technical design information to support broadband services;
“(D) preparing reports and surveys necessary to support the need for broadband services, the price range, and request financial assistance;
“(E) analyzing and improving operation related to the management, including financial management, of broadband facilities and to the efficiency of the entity;
“(F) collecting broadband infrastructure data; or
“(G) assisting with other areas of need identified by the Secretary.
“(2) Eligible entities.—To be eligible to obtain assistance under this subsection, an entity shall be—
“(A) a federally recognized Tribe or Tribal entity;
“(B) a State or local government, including any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof;
“(C) a territory or possession of the United States;
“(D) an institution of higher education (including a 1862 Land-Grant Institution, 1890 Land-Grant Institution, 1994 Land-Grant Institution, Hispanic- Serving Institution, or Historically Black College or University);
“(E) a nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
“(F) a cooperative or mutual organization;
“(G) a corporation; or
“(H) a limited liability company or limited liability partnership.
“(3) Selection priority.—In selecting recipients of grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to organizations that have experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural entities.
“(4) National applications.—The Secretary shall allow applications for grants under this paragraph from qualified organizations for the sole purpose of providing on-site community technical assistance and training on a national or multi-State regional basis.”. <all>
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