I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6073 
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide requirements 
on the use of assistance for broadband deployment, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2018 
Mr. CRAMER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide 
requirements on the use of assistance for broadband 
deployment, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reprioritizing 
Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband Act 
of 2018’’ or the ‘‘RURAL Broadband Act of 2018’’. 
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SEC. 2. USE OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEPLOYMENT OF 
BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 604. USE OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEPLOYMENT OF 
BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF QUALIFYING BROADBAND-CA-
PABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.—In this section, the term 
‘qualifying broadband-capable infrastructure’ means fixed 
broadband-capable infrastructure— 
‘‘(1) used by a service provider to provide fixed 
broadband service for which the service provider re-
ceives universal service support under section 254 of 
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254), 
if— 
‘‘(A) the broadband service satisfies any 
applicable broadband speed standards under 
that section and the regulations issued under 
that section; or 
‘‘(B) the service provider is in compliance 
with buildout obligations to provide retail fixed 
broadband service that will comply with applica-
ble broadband speed standards described in 
subparagraph (A); or 
‘‘(2) that— 
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‘‘(A) was financed with funds provided by 
the Secretary under this Act or any other pro-
gram carried out by the Secretary for the costs 
of the construction, improvement, or acquisition 
of facilities or equipment for the purpose of 
providing 
fixed 
telecommunications 
or 
broadband service; and 
‘‘(B)(i) is used to provide fixed broadband 
service, if— 
‘‘(I) the broadband service satisfies 
any applicable broadband speed standards 
established by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(II) the service provider is in compli-
ance with buildout obligations to provide 
retail fixed broadband service that will 
comply with applicable broadband speed 
standards described in subclause (I); or 
‘‘(ii) was financed with a loan under this 
Act or any other program carried out by the 
Secretary that remains outstanding. 
‘‘(b) RESTRICTION ON USE OF ASSISTANCE.—A loan, 
grant, or other assistance awarded under this Act, or by 
the rural development mission area under the Consoli-
dated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 
et seq.), may not be used to coordinate, approve, or fi-
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nance the deployment of broadband-capable infrastructure 
by a service provider to provide retail fixed broadband 
service that would overbuild or otherwise duplicate quali-
fying broadband-capable infrastructure that another serv-
ice provider is using to provide retail fixed broadband serv-
ice in the same area. 
‘‘(c) USE OF ASSISTANCE IN UNSERVED AREAS.— 
A loan, grant, or other assistance provided by the Sec-
retary, acting through the Administrator of the Rural 
Utilities Service, to coordinate, approve, or finance the de-
ployment of broadband-capable infrastructure by a service 
provider may be used to provide retail fixed broadband 
service in an area in which there is no qualifying 
broadband-capable infrastructure owned or operated by 
another service provider.’’. 
Æ 
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