Rural Broadband Infrastructure Investment Act

To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to increase regional telecommunications development, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Broadband Infrastructure Investment Act 2. Rural telecommunications development (a) In general Title II of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 922 et seq. 208. Regional telecommunications development In addition to any preference given under section 201 with respect to a telephone loan made under this Act, the Secretary may give preference to an application for such a loan for a project that, as determined by the Secretary, supports the development of telecommunications services on a multijurisdictional basis. In evaluating such an application, the Secretary shall consider whether— (1) the project that is the subject of the application was developed through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area of the project, including State, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit institutions, institutions of higher education, and private entities; (2) the applicant has an understanding of the applicable regional resources that could support the project, including natural resources, human resources, infrastructure, and financial resources; and (3) the project has clear objectives and includes a means to establish measurable performance measures and to track progress toward meeting such objectives. . (b) Exemption from State agency requirement Section 201 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 922 or the application involved is an application described in section 208 (c) Definition of rural area Section 203(b) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 924(b) 5,000 20,000 3. Rural broadband development (a) Award of grants Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb (1) in subsection (a), by striking loans and loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, and grants (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking and loan guarantees loan guarantees, and grants (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting , and may make grants, loans (C) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking loans or loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, or grants (ii) in subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking loan and loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, and grant (II) by striking loans and loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, and grants (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking loans or loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, or grants (3) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (ii) in clause (ii), by striking loan loan or grant (iii) in clause (iii)— (I) by striking loan loan or grant (II) by striking loan made or guaranteed loan or grant made or loan guaranteed (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i)— (I) by inserting or the funds received through a grant made guaranteed (II) by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (C) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (D) in paragraph (4), by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (E) in paragraph (5)(A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (F) in paragraph (6)— (i) by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (ii) by striking loan involved loan or grant involved (G) in paragraph (7), by striking loan loan or grant (4) in subsection (f), by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (5) in subsection (j)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking loan and loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, and grant (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking loans loans or grants (ii) by striking loan loan or grant (C) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking loan loan or grant (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking loans and loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, and grants (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking loans and loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, and grants (D) in paragraph (3), by striking loan loan or grant (6) by redesignating subsections (k) and (l) as subsections (l) and (m), respectively; (7) by inserting after subsection (j) the following new subsection: (k) Matching funds requirement The recipient of a grant under this section shall provide funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both, from sources other than funds provided through such grant in an amount that is at least equal to 10 percent of the amount of such grant. ; (8) in subsection (l) (as so redesignated)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking section expended. section— (A) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2015, to remain available until expended; and (B) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, to remain available until expended. ; and (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking loans and loan guarantees loans, loan guarantees, and grants (9) in subsection (m) (as so redesignated)— (A) by striking loan or loan guarantee loan, loan guarantee, or grant (B) by striking 2018 2020 (b) Priority for support for development of broadband service Paragraph (2) of section 601(c) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb(c) (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E) give priority to applicants that offer in the applications of the applicants to provide support for mutijurisdictional projects for the development of broadband service in rural areas that are developed through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area of such a project, including State, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit institutions, institutions of higher education, and private entities. .

Summary: Rural Broadband Infrastructure Investment Act This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional loans and grants for the development of telecommunications and broadband services in rural areas. USDA may give preference to loan applications for projects that support the development of telecommunications services in rural areas on a multijurisdictional basis. In evaluating applications, USDA must consider whether: the project was developed through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area; the applicant understands the regional resources that could support the project, including natural resources, human resources, infrastructure, and financial resources; and the project has clear objectives and a means to establish performance measures. For the purpose of loans, loan guarantees, and grants, a rural area is any area of the United States not included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants. USDA may provide grants, in addition to loans and loan guarantees permitted under current law, for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas. In providing loans, loan guarantees, and grants, USDA may give priority to multijurisdictional projects for the development of broadband service in rural areas that are developed through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area.