(1) by striking the section heading and insert-
ing ‘‘RECONNECT PROGRAM’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) RECONNECT
PROGRAM.—The term ‘Re-
Connect Program’ means the program established 
under this section.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)— 
(i) in clause (i)— 
(I) in subclause (I), by striking 
‘‘10-Mbps’’ and inserting ‘‘25-Mbps’’; 
and 
(II) in subclause (II), by striking 
‘‘1-Mbps’’ and inserting ‘‘3-Mbps’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking clause (iv) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(iv) give priority to applications from 
applicants that have demonstrated the 
technical and financial experience required 
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to construct and operate broadband net-
works.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an application process for grants, loans, and 
loan guarantees under this section that— 
‘‘(A) reduces the amount of data required 
to apply by limiting the required data to only— 
‘‘(i) the entity applying, excluding any 
parent or affiliate entity that is not a party 
to the application, to the greatest extent 
practicable; and 
‘‘(ii) the geographic area affected by 
the application, if a parent or affiliate is 
not a party to the application; 
‘‘(B) simplifies the data interfaces for sub-
mission to the greatest extent practicable; and 
‘‘(C) allows all applicants, regardless of 
whether an applicant is publicly traded, to rely 
on a bond rating of at least investment grade 
(when bond ratings are available) in place of fi-
nancial documentation. 
‘‘(6) USE
OF
BROADBAND
MAP.—In making 
any determination to award a loan, loan guarantee, 
or grant under this section, the Secretary shall uti-
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lize the map created by the Federal Communications 
Commission under section 802(c)(1)(A) of the Com-
munications Act of 1934.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘subsection (j)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(l)’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) GRANT
REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) shall not restrict the eligibility of 
an entity for a grant under this section 
based on the legal structure of the entity; 
‘‘(ii) shall allow entities to apply for a 
grant under this section without regard to, 
or preference for, the legal structure of an 
entity; 
‘‘(iii) in determining the financial abil-
ity of an entity to carry out a project using 
a grant under this section, shall allow the 
entity to demonstrate that financial ability 
by methods that— 
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‘‘(I) the Secretary determines to 
be the least burdensome; and 
‘‘(II) subject to clause (v), are 
not limited to providing the Federal 
Government an exclusive first lien on 
all grant-funded assets during the 
service obligation of the grant; 
‘‘(iv) subject to clause (v), in deter-
mining the required collateral to secure 
grant funds or to secure performance dur-
ing the service obligation of a grant, shall 
allow an awardee to offer alternative secu-
rity, such as a letter of credit, in lieu of 
providing the Federal Government an ex-
clusive first lien on all grant-funded assets; 
and 
‘‘(v) if the Secretary reasonably deter-
mines that alternative methods or alter-
native security established under clause 
(iii)(II) or (iv) are insufficient to secure 
performance with respect to a project 
under this section— 
‘‘(I) may require an entity to 
provide the Federal Government an 
exclusive first lien all grant-funded as-
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sets during the service obligation of 
the grant; and 
‘‘(II) shall release that lien after 
the Secretary determines that the en-
tity is performing to the satisfaction 
of the Secretary.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
‘‘50’’ and inserting ‘‘90’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) 
OBLIGATIONS
TO
PROVIDE 
BROADBAND
SERVICE
IN
THE
SAME
SERVICE 
TERRITORY.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION OF BROADBAND IN-
FRASTRUCTURE.—In this subparagraph, 
the term ‘broadband infrastructure’ means 
any cables, fiber optics, wiring, or other 
permanent infrastructure that is integral 
to the structure, including fixed wireless 
infrastructure, that— 
‘‘(I) is capable of providing ac-
cess to internet connections in indi-
vidual locations; and 
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‘‘(II) offers an advanced tele-
communications capability (as defined 
in section 706(d) of the Telecommuni-
cations Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 
1302(d))). 
‘‘(ii) OTHER
PROVIDERS.—The Sec-
retary shall consider a proposed service 
territory with respect to which an eligible 
entity submits an application to carry out 
a project under this section to be served by 
broadband service if a broadband service 
provider other than that eligible entity is 
subject to an obligation by a Federal, 
State, or local government entity to build 
broadband 
infrastructure 
and 
offer 
broadband service in that service territory, 
subject to conditions— 
‘‘(I) under a Federal, State, or 
local funding award program; or 
‘‘(II) otherwise required by the 
Federal, State, or local government 
entity. 
‘‘(iii) OTHER
FUNDING.—Subject to 
clause (iv), the Secretary shall not be re-
quired to consider a proposed service terri-
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a project under this section to be unserved 
by broadband service if an obligation under 
another award program described in clause 
(iii) would not provide broadband service of 
at least— 
‘‘(I) 
a 
25-Mbps 
downstream 
transmission capacity; and 
‘‘(II) a 3-Mbps upstream trans-
mission capacity. 
‘‘(E) REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING.— 
‘‘(i) AFFILIATE
OWNED
AND
OPER-
ATED NETWORKS.—A grant, loan, or loan 
guarantee under this section may be used 
to construct networks that will be owned 
and operated by an affiliate of the eligible 
entity receiving the grant, loan, or loan 
guarantee, subject to the condition that the 
eligible entity, the affiliate, or both, as the 
Secretary determines to be necessary, shall 
provide adequate security for the grant, 
loan, or loan guarantee. 
‘‘(ii) NEGATIVE COVENANTS AND CON-
DITIONS.—To the greatest extent prac-
ticable, a project carried out using a grant, 
loan, or loan guarantee under this section 
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shall not add any new negative covenants 
or conditions to the grant, loan, or loan 
guarantee agreement that were not pre-
viously disclosed to the eligible entity at 
the time of application for the grant, loan, 
or loan guarantee. 
‘‘(iii) OWNERSHIP OF SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—A network 
constructed with a grant, loan, or loan 
guarantee under this section may be 
transferred to an unaffiliated provider 
that agrees— 
‘‘(aa) to assume the service 
obligation; and 
‘‘(bb) to provide appropriate 
and sufficient security for that 
network. 
‘‘(II) 
DETERMINATION.—The 
Secretary shall not unreasonably with-
hold consent to enter into an appro-
priate agreement described in sub-
clause (I) with the transferee based on 
an evaluation by the Secretary of the 
ability of the transferee to assume the 
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agreement and provide security de-
scribed in item (bb) of that subclause. 
‘‘(iv) REPORTING
AND
AUDITING.— 
The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(I) simplify, to the maximum 
extent practicable, ongoing reporting 
and auditing requirements for recipi-
ents of a grant, loan, or loan guar-
antee under this section; and 
‘‘(II) allow a recipient described 
in subclause (I) whose financial infor-
mation is consolidated with the finan-
cial information of a parent entity to 
rely on that consolidated financial in-
formation in complying with the re-
quirements described in that sub-
clause if the parent entity is providing 
a guarantee on behalf of a subsidiary 
of the parent entity with respect to 
the grant, loan, or loan guarantee. 
‘‘(v) 
PROCUREMENT
AND
CON-
TRACTING.—The Secretary— 
‘‘(I) shall simplify, to the max-
imum extent practicable, requirements 
for recipients of a grant, loan, or loan 
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guarantee under this section relating 
to the procurement of materials and 
retention of contractors; and 
‘‘(II) shall not unreasonably re-
strict the ability of a recipient de-
scribed in subclause (I) to obtain 
goods and services from affiliated en-
tities.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘25- 
Mbps’’ and inserting ‘‘100-Mbps’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘3- 
Mbps’’ and inserting ‘‘20-Mbps’’; 
(6) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as 
subsections (l) and (m), respectively; 
(7) by inserting after subsection (i) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue regu-
lations to carry out this section in accordance with section 
553 of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(k) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of the Rural Internet Improve-
ment Act of 2023, and not less frequently than annually 
thereafter, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) publish a report describing— 
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‘‘(A) the distribution of amounts made 
available under the ReConnect Program for the 
preceding year; 
‘‘(B) the number of locations at which 
broadband service was made available using 
amounts under the ReConnect Program for the 
preceding year; 
‘‘(C) the number of locations described in 
subparagraph (B) at which broadband service 
was used; and 
‘‘(D) the highest level of broadband service 
made available at each location described in 
subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(2) submit the report described in paragraph 
(1) to— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate; 
‘‘(B) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives; and 
‘‘(D) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives.’’; and 
(8) in subsection (l) (as so redesignated), in 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for each of fiscal years 
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2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘for each fiscal 
year’’. 
(b) SUNSET.—Beginning on the date that is 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, section 779 of 
division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 
(Public Law 115–141; 132 Stat. 399), shall have no force 
or effect. 
(c) TRANSFER OF AMOUNTS.—The unobligated bal-
ance, as of the date that is 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, of any amounts made available to 
carry out the pilot program described in section 779 of 
division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 
(Public Law 115–141; 132 Stat. 399)— 
(1) is transferred to, and merged with, amounts 
made available to carry out section 601 of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb); and 
(2) shall remain available, until expended, and 
without further appropriation, to carry out the Re-
Connect Program established under that section. 
(d) EFFECT.—Title VI of the Rural Electrification 
Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 607. EFFECT. 
‘‘Nothing in this title authorizes the Secretary to reg-
ulate rates charged for broadband service.’’. 
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(e) PUBLIC NOTICE, ASSESSMENTS, AND REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 701 of the Rural Electrifica-
tion Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950cc) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘, 
including a complete shapefile map’’ after ‘‘ap-
plicant’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ‘‘(c)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(d)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) 
as subsections (c) through (f), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) CHALLENGE PROCESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a transparent, evidence based, and expeditious 
process for challenging, with respect to any area for 
which assistance is sought under an application de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1), whether that area has 
access to broadband service. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall make pub-
licly available on the website of the Department of 
Agriculture a written notice describing— 
‘‘(A) the decision of the Secretary on each 
challenge submitted under paragraph (1); and 
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‘‘(B) the reasons for each decision de-
scribed in subparagraph (A).’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) PUBLIC
NOTICE
OF
ELIGIBLE
FUNDING 
AREAS.—Prior to making available to the public the data-
base under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make avail-
able to the public a fully searchable database on the 
website of the Rural Utilities Service that contains infor-
mation on areas eligible for assistance under retail 
broadband projects that are administered by the Secretary 
in accordance with the maps created by the Federal Com-
munications Commission under section 802(c)(1) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)).’’. 
(f) FEDERAL BROADBAND PROGRAM COORDINA-
TION.—Section 6212 of the Agriculture Improvement Act 
of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 950bb–6) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), 
and (d) as subsections (b), (c), (e), and (a), respec-
tively, and moving the subsections so as to appear 
in alphabetical order; 
(2) in subsection (a) (as so redesignated), in 
paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘section 601(b)(3) of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 601(b) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b))’’; 
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(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), in 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) RECONNECT PROGRAM.—On award-
ing a grant, loan, or loan guarantee under the 
ReConnect Program established under section 
601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb), the Secretary shall notify the 
Commission of that award.’’; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(d) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RELATING 
TO OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall enter into a memo-
randum of understanding with the Assistant Secretary 
and the Commission to facilitate outreach to residents and 
businesses in rural areas, including— 
‘‘(1) to evaluate the broadband service needs in 
rural areas; 
‘‘(2) to inform residents and businesses in rural 
areas of available Federal programs that promote 
broadband access, broadband affordability, and 
broadband inclusion; and 
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‘‘(3) for such additional goals as the Secretary, 
the Assistant Secretary, and the Commission deter-
mine to be appropriate.’’. 
Æ 
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