I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5897 
To utilize loans and loan guarantees under the rural broadband access pro-
gram to provide broadband service for agricultural producers and to 
provide universal service support for installation charges for broadband 
service for agricultural producers in order to improve precision farming 
and ranching, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2016 
Ms. STEFANIK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Agriculture, 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 utilize loans and loan guarantees under the rural 
broadband access program to provide broadband service 
for agricultural producers and to provide universal serv-
ice support for installation charges for broadband service 
for agricultural producers in order to improve precision 
farming and ranching, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Precision Farming Act 
of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. LOAN PRIORITIES IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO 
BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERV-
ICES IN RURAL AREAS. 
Section 601(c)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C); 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E) and, in such subparagraph, by strik-
ing ‘‘in the applications of the applicants’’; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph (D): 
‘‘(D) give priority to applicants that offer 
to provide broadband service, at better than the 
minimum acceptable level of broadband service 
established under subsection (e), to agricultural 
producers in the proposed service territory to 
improve their ability to conduct precision farm-
ing or ranching, as determined by the Sec-
retary; and’’. 
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SEC. 3. UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT FOR BROADBAND 
SERVICE INSTALLATION CHARGES FOR AGRI-
CULTURAL PRODUCERS. 
Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(m) SUPPORT FOR BROADBAND SERVICE INSTAL-
LATION CHARGES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A provider of broadband 
service serving a geographic area shall, upon a bona 
fide request from an agricultural producer for con-
nection to such service to improve the ability of the 
producer to conduct precision farming or ranching, 
install any line or other facility or equipment nec-
essary to enable such connection at a discount from 
the amount that the provider would charge other 
parties for a similar installation. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT OF DISCOUNT.—The amount of 
the discount provided under paragraph (1) shall be 
the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) the amount that the provider would 
charge other parties for a similar installation; 
or 
‘‘(B) $15,000. 
‘‘(3) LIMIT OF ONE DISCOUNT PER AGRICUL-
TURAL PRODUCER.—An agricultural producer may 
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not receive more than one discount under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(4) OFFSET OR REIMBURSEMENT.—A provider 
of broadband service that makes an installation 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) have an amount equal to the amount 
of the discount provided under such paragraph 
treated as an offset to its obligation to con-
tribute to the mechanisms to preserve and ad-
vance universal service; or 
‘‘(B) notwithstanding the provisions of 
subsection (e), receive reimbursement utilizing 
the support mechanisms to preserve and ad-
vance universal service. 
‘‘(5) CONSISTENCY
WITH
RURAL
BROADBAND 
ACCESS PROGRAM.—The Commission shall, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, promul-
gate such regulations as are necessary to ensure that 
this subsection is carried out in a manner that is 
consistent with the manner in which the Secretary 
of Agriculture carries out subparagraph (D) of sec-
tion 601(c)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(c)(2)).’’. 
Æ 
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