Title: Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act
This bill reauthorizes 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 through FY2030 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 through FY2030 programs that support (1) rural broadband access, including for economically challenged communities; and (2) innovative technologies to decrease broadband deployment costs and increase broadband speeds. It also increases the authorization of appropriations for grants, loans, and other assistance to expand 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).

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4374 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4374

   To bolster certain rural broadband programs of the Department of 
                              Agriculture.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 2021

  Mr. David Scott of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was 
   referred to the Committee 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To bolster certain rural broadband programs of the Department of 
                              Agriculture.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Broadband Internet Connections for 
Rural America Act''.

SEC. 2. INNOVATIVE BROADBAND ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 603(e) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
950bb-2(e)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(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 2030, to remain available until expended, to carry out 
        projects in accordance with this section--
                    ``(A) in the case of fiscal year 2022, in 15 
                States, including Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 
                California, Georgia, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, South 
                Carolina, Wyoming, Iowa, and West Virginia; and
                    ``(B) in the case of each of fiscal years 2023 
                through 2030, in States 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.''.

SEC. 3. RURAL BROADBAND PROGRAM LOANS AND GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``access to 
        broadband telecommunications services in rural areas'' and 
        inserting ``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', to provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to finance the 
costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities 
and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.'';
            (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 
                        permanent residents; and
                            ``(ii) with a high percentage of low income 
                        families or persons (as defined in section 
                        501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1471(b)).
                    ``(C) 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 (D)(i)--
                            (i) in subclause (I), by striking 
                        ``(2)(A)(i)'' and inserting ``(2)(A)''; and
                            (ii) in subclause (II), by striking ``any 
                        of subclauses (I) through (IV) of paragraph 
                        (2)(B)(i)'' and inserting ``clause (i) or (ii) 
                        of paragraph (2)(B)''; and
                    (B) 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)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (B)'';
                            (ii) by striking ``--'' and all that 
                        follows through ``(i)''; and
                            (iii) by striking the semicolon and all 
                        that follows through ``providers'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(A)(i)'' and 
                inserting ``(A)''; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C);
            (6) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (5);
            (7) in subsection (j)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``$350,000,000'' and inserting 
                ``$5,250,000,000'';
                    (B) by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting 
                ``2022 through 2030''; and
                    (C) by striking ``until expended'' and inserting 
                ``for 2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which 
                appropriated''; and
            (8) in subsection (k), by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
        ``2030''.
    (b) Sunset.--The authorities provided by section 779 of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) shall have 
no force or effect after June 30, 2022.
    (c) 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, 2022, to carry out the pilot program 
        described in section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations 
        Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) may be used for the costs of 
        transitioning from the pilot program to the program under 
        section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as 
        amended by this Act.
            (2) Consolidation of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--The unobligated balances of all 
                amounts made available on or before June 30, 2023, to 
                carry out the pilot program described in section 779 of 
                the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 
                115-141) that are in excess of the amount described in 
                subparagraph (B) of this paragraph are hereby 
                transferred to and merged with amounts made available 
                to carry out the program authorized under section 601 
                of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
                    (B) Unfunded approvals.--The amount described in 
                this subparagraph is the amount required to fully fund 
                each project approved as of June 30, 2023, under the 
                pilot program described in such section 779 for which 
                amounts were not obligated or partially obligated as of 
                such date.

SEC. 4. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANTS.

    Section 604(g) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
950bb-3(g)) is amended by striking ``$50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$150,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2022 through 2030, to remain available for 2 fiscal years 
after the fiscal year for which appropriated''.

SEC. 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) is amended by striking ``$82,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$150,000,000, 
to remain available for 2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which 
appropriated''.

SEC. 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)) is amended by striking ``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 through 2023'' and inserting ``$300,000,000 for each fiscal 
year, to remain available for 2 fiscal years after the fiscal year for 
which appropriated''.

SEC. 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 to receive funds under title II or VI 
of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) or 
chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXIII of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (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 2030, which are authorized to remain available 
through fiscal year 2030.

SEC. 8. COMMUNITY BROADBAND MAPPING.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Community 
Broadband Mapping Act''.
    (b) Rural Broadband Access Grants.--Section 601 of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(l) Authority To Make Grants to Certain Entities To Collect 
Broadband Infrastructure Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section, the Secretary may make a grant under this section 
        to a unit of local government, a tribal government or a unit of 
        tribal government, an economic development or other community 
        organization, an electric cooperative (as defined in section 3 
        of the Federal Power Act) that sells electric energy to persons 
        in rural areas, a telephone cooperative, or an internet service 
        provider that has not more than 100,000 subscribers, for the 
        purpose of enabling the collection of data relating to where 
        broadband infrastructure is located, cost of broadband service, 
        cost of such service by tier of service, actual speed available 
        at household, speed advertised, and which homes are provided 
        with non-satellite broadband service, without regard to any 
        household service percentage requirement, and in determining 
        the eligibility of any such entity for such a grant, the term 
        `rural area' means an area that is not in an urbanized area or 
        urban cluster with a population of 25,000 or more as determined 
        by the Bureau of the Census.
            ``(2) Limitation on grant amount.--The amount of a grant 
        made under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000.
            ``(3) Limitation on amount available for grants.--The 
        Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the amounts made 
        available under this section for each fiscal year to carry out 
        this subsection.''.
    (c) Expansion of Middle Mile Infrastructure Into Rural Areas 
Grants.--Section 602 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
950bb-1) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Authority To Make Grants to Certain Entities To Collect 
Broadband Infrastructure Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section, the Secretary may make a grant under this section 
        to a unit of local government, a tribal government or a unit of 
        tribal government, an economic development or other community 
        organization, an electric cooperative (as defined in section 3 
        of the Federal Power Act) that sells electric energy to persons 
        in rural areas, a telephone cooperative, or an internet service 
        provider that has not more than 100,000 subscribers, for the 
        purpose of enabling the collection of data relating to where 
        broadband infrastructure is located, cost of broadband service, 
        cost of such service by tier of service, actual speed available 
        at household, speed advertised, and which homes are provided 
        with non-satellite broadband service, without regard to any 
        household service percentage requirement, and in determining 
        the eligibility of any such entity for such a grant, the term 
        `rural area' means an area that is not in an urbanized area or 
        urban cluster with a population of 25,000 or more as determined 
        by the Bureau of the Census.
            ``(2) Limitation on grant amount.--The amount of a grant 
        made under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000.
            ``(3) Limitation on amount available for grants.--The 
        Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the amounts made 
        available under this section for each fiscal year to carry out 
        this subsection.''.
    (d) Innovative Broadband Advancement Grants.--Section 603 of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb-2), as amended by 
section 2 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Authority To Make Grants to Certain Entities To Collect 
Broadband Infrastructure Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section, the Secretary may make a grant under this section 
        to a unit of local government, a tribal government or a unit of 
        tribal government, an economic development or other community 
        organization, an electric cooperative (as defined in section 3 
        of the Federal Power Act) that sells electric energy to persons 
        in rural areas, a telephone cooperative, or an internet service 
        provider that has not more than 100,000 subscribers, for the 
        purpose of enabling the collection of data relating to where 
        broadband infrastructure is located, cost of broadband service, 
        cost of such service by tier of service, actual speed available 
        at household, speed advertised, and which homes are provided 
        with non-satellite broadband service, without regard to any 
        household service percentage requirement, and in determining 
        the eligibility of any such entity for such a grant, the term 
        `rural area' means an area that is not in an urbanized area or 
        urban cluster with a population of 25,000 or more as determined 
        by the Bureau of the Census.
            ``(2) Limitation on grant amount.--The amount of a grant 
        made under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000.
            ``(3) Limitation on amount available for grants.--The 
        Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the amounts made 
        available under this section for each fiscal year to carry out 
        this subsection.''.
    (e) Community Connect Grants.--Section 604 of the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb-3) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(h) Authority To Make Grants to Certain Entities To Collect 
Broadband Infrastructure Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section, the Secretary may make a grant under this section 
        to a unit of local government, a tribal government or a unit of 
        tribal government, an economic development or other community 
        organization, an electric cooperative (as defined in section 3 
        of the Federal Power Act) that sells electric energy to persons 
        in rural areas, a telephone cooperative, or an internet service 
        provider that has not more than 100,000 subscribers, for the 
        purpose of enabling the collection of data relating to where 
        broadband infrastructure is located, cost of broadband service, 
        cost of such service by tier of service, actual speed available 
        at household, speed advertised, and which homes are provided 
        with non-satellite broadband service, without regard to any 
        household service percentage requirement, and in determining 
        the eligibility of any such entity for such a grant, the term 
        `rural area' means an area that is not in an urbanized area or 
        urban cluster with a population of 25,000 or more as determined 
        by the Bureau of the Census.
            ``(2) Limitation on grant amount.--The amount of a grant 
        made under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000.
            ``(3) Limitation on amount available for grants.--The 
        Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the amounts made 
        available under this section for each fiscal year to carry out 
        this subsection.''.
    (f) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants.--Section 2333 of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa-
2) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Authority To Make Grants to Certain Entities To Collect 
Broadband Infrastructure Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section, the Secretary may make a grant under this section 
        to a unit of local government, a tribal government or a unit of 
        tribal government, an economic development or other community 
        organization, an electric cooperative (as defined in section 3 
        of the Federal Power Act) that sells electric energy to persons 
        in rural areas, a telephone cooperative, or an internet service 
        provider that has not more than 100,000 subscribers, for the 
        purpose of enabling the collection of data relating to where 
        broadband infrastructure is located, cost of broadband service, 
        cost of such service by tier of service, actual speed available 
        at household, speed advertised, and which homes are provided 
        with non-satellite broadband service, without regard to any 
        household service percentage requirement, and in determining 
        the eligibility of any such entity for such a grant, the term 
        `rural area' means an area that is not in an urbanized area or 
        urban cluster with a population of 25,000 or more as determined 
        by the Bureau of the Census.
            ``(2) Limitation on grant amount.--The amount of a grant 
        made under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000.
            ``(3) Limitation on amount available for grants.--The 
        Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the amounts made 
        available under this section for each fiscal year to carry out 
        this subsection.''.
    (g) ReConnect Grants.--Section 779 of division A of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (132 Stat. 399; Public Law 115-
141) is amended by inserting ``: Provided further, That, 
notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary may 
use not more than 1 percent of the amounts made available to carry out 
this section to make grants, each not exceeding $50,000, to a unit of 
local government, a tribal government or a unit of tribal government, 
an economic development or other community organization, an electric 
cooperative (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Power Act) that 
sells electric energy to persons in rural areas, a telephone 
cooperative, or an internet service provider that has not more than 
100,000 subscribers, for the purpose of enabling the collection of data 
relating to where broadband infrastructure is located, cost of 
broadband service, cost of such service by tier of service, actual 
speed available at household, speed advertised, and which homes are 
provided with non-satellite broadband service, without regard to any 
household service percentage requirement, and in determining the 
eligibility of any such entity for such a grant, the term `rural area' 
means an area that is not in an urbanized area or urban cluster with a 
population of 25,000 or more as determined by the Bureau of the 
Census'' before the period.
    (h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 9. LIMITATIONS ON RESERVATION OF FUNDS.

    Section 701(e) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
950cc(e)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) 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.''.
                                 <all>