Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act

To bolster certain rural broadband programs of the Department of Agriculture. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act 2. Innovative broadband advancement program Section 603(e) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb-2(e) (e) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, to remain available until expended, to carry out projects in States and territories selected by the Secretary to be diverse on the basis of geography, topography, and demographics. (2) Limitation Not more than $25,000,000 of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year may be provided for a single project. . 3. Rural broadband program loans and grants (a) In general Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb (1) in the section heading, by striking Access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas Reconnect rural broadband program (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: (a) Establishment; purpose The Secretary shall establish a program, which shall be known as the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program ; (3) in subsection (c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: (A) In general In making grants, making loans, and guaranteeing loans under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give the highest priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service to unserved rural communities that do not have any residential broadband service of at least— (i) a 10–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and (ii) a 1–Mbps upstream transmission capacity. (B) Other After giving priority to the applications described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall then give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service to rural communities— (i) with a population of less than 10,000 inhabitants; or (ii) with a high percentage of low income families or persons (as defined in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949). (C) Ports in rural areas priority (i) Definition of port In this subparagraph, the term port (I) any port on the navigable waters of the United States, including territories; (II) any harbor, marine terminal, or other shore side facility used principally for the movement of goods on inland waters; and (III) any port formed in accordance with applicable State or territory law. (ii) Priority In addition to the priority given under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall give equal priority to an application for a project that would increase the availability of broadband service in a port in a rural area. (D) Additional considerations In making grants, making loans, and guaranteeing loans under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider whether an application was developed with the participation of community stakeholders, and will receive a substantial portion of the funding for the project from community stakeholders or other non-Federal sources. ; (4) in subsection (c)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking and (ii) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (iii) shall be subject to a grant agreement of not less than ten years. ; (B) in subparagraph (D)(i)— (i) in subclause (I), by striking (2)(A)(i) (2)(A) (ii) in subclause (II), by striking any of subclauses (I) through (IV) of paragraph (2)(B)(i) clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(B) (C) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following: (E) Applications (i) Grant-only applications The Secretary shall establish an application process that permits an application for a grant-only award. (ii) Combined applications The Secretary shall establish an application process that permits— (I) a single application for a grant and a loan under title I or II, or this title, that is associated with the grant; and (II) provides a single decision to award the grant and the loan. ; (5) in subsection (d)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) subparagraph (B) (ii) by striking is submitted— (i) not less is submitted not less (iii) by striking (e); and (e). (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking Subparagraph (A)(i) Subparagraph (A) (C) by striking subparagraph (C); (6) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (5); (7) by striking subsection (j) and inserting the following: (j) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $4,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, to remain available for 5 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which appropriated. ; and (8) in subsection (k), by striking 2023 2029 (b) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate rules to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a) of this section, and complete the biennial review process required by section 601(e)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. (c) Sunset The authorities provided by section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 (d) Transition rules (1) Availability of funds for administrative costs Not more than 1 percent of the unobligated balances of amounts made available as of June 1, 2021, to carry out the pilot program described in section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 (2) Consolidation of funds (A) In general The unobligated balances of all amounts made available on or before June 30, 2022, to carry out the pilot program described in section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 (B) Unfunded approvals The amount described in this subparagraph is the amount required to fully fund each project approved as of June 30, 2022, under the pilot program described in such section 779 for which amounts were not obligated or partially obligated as of such date. 4. Community Connect grants Section 604(g) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb-3(g) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, to remain available for 2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which appropriated 5. Distance learning and telemedicine loans and grants Section 2335A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa–5 $82,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, to remain available for 2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which appropriated 6. Expansion of middle mile infrastructure into rural areas Section 602(g) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb-1(g) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023 $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, to remain available for 2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which appropriated 7. Broadband Connectors Program (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a system for the dissemination of information and technical assistance on the broadband programs of the Department of Agriculture, which shall be for the use of entities eligible, such as Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to receive funds under title II or VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq. (b) Limitations on authorization of appropriations To carry out subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture not more than $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, which are authorized to remain available through fiscal year 2029. 8. Community broadband mapping Section 701 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950cc (e) Community broadband mapping program (1) In general The Secretary may make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of collecting broadband service data to assist the Secretary in— (A) establishing the availability of broadband service or middle mile infrastructure in a rural area; (B) determining the eligibility of a community for assistance under any broadband program administered by the Secretary; or (C) undertaking a service area assessment under this section. (2) Application To apply for a grant under this section, an entity shall submit an application therefor which identifies— (A) the data collection area; (B) the purpose of the data collection; (C) the types of broadband service data to be collected; (D) the survey and data collection methods to be utilized; and (E) any other information the Secretary determines necessary to promote the integrity of broadband service data collected under this section. (3) Limitation on grant amount The amount of a grant made under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000. (4) Broadband service data usage The Secretary shall ensure that any broadband service data collected under this section is— (A) measured or assessed in accordance with such standards as the Secretary may establish; (B) accurate and verifiable in accordance with such standards as the Secretary may establish; (C) included in any broadband maps or data sets maintained by the Secretary; and (D) made available to the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission and the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for inclusion in any broadband maps or data sets either may maintain. (5) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Broadband service The term broadband service (B) Broadband service data (i) In general The term broadband service data (I) the location and type of broadband service; (II) the location and type of broadband infrastructure; (III) the advertised, maximum, and average speed of broadband service; (IV) the average price of the most subscribed tier of broadband service; (V) the speed tiers of broadband service available in the area; or (VI) any additional metric the Secretary deems appropriate. (ii) Further definition The Secretary shall further define the term broadband service data (C) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (i) a unit of local government in a rural area; (ii) a tribal government or unit of tribal government; (iii) an economic development or other community organization; (iv) an eligible entity under title I or II that serves persons in rural areas; (v) an internet service provider that has not more than 100,000 subscribers; or (vi) any other entity eligible under a title VI program that is not an internet service provider. (D) Middle mile infrastructure The term middle mile infrastructure (E) Rural area The term rural area (6) Limitation on amount made available for grants The Secretary may not expend more than 1 percent of the amounts made available under subsection (f) for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029 to carry out this subsection. . 9. Limitations on reservation of funds Section 701(f) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950cc(f) (f) Limitations on reservation of funds Not less than 3 but not more than 7 percent of the amounts appropriated to carry out title VI shall be set aside to be used— (1) for administrative costs to carry out programs under title VI; (2) for technical assistance and pre-development planning activities to support the most rural communities; (3) to conduct oversight under title VI; (4) to implement accountability measures and related activities authorized under title VI; and (5) to carry out this section. . December 16, 2022 Committee on Energy and Commerce

Summary: Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and makes other changes to various programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that support broadband internet expansion in rural areas. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes and modifies a program that provides grants, loans, and loan guarantees for broadband expansion. Modifications include revising the criteria used to prioritize applications and projects and changing the name of the program to the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program. Further, the bill terminates on June 30, 2022, a separate USDA pilot program that supports broadband expansion in rural areas; any program funds that remain available after that date shall be used for the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program. The bill also reauthorizes programs that support (1) rural broadband access, including for economically challenged communities, distance learning, and telehealth; (2) innovative technologies to decrease broadband deployment costs and increase broadband speeds; and (3) expansion of middle mile broadband infrastructure (i.e., connections between national and regional internet backbones and schools, businesses, residences, and other local connection sites). Additionally, USDA must establish a system to disseminate information and technical assistance concerning its broadband expansion programs and may award grants to units of governments and other eligible entities to collect data about broadband availability (e.g., location of infrastructure, costs, and speeds).