Legis Daily

A bill to amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide grants for access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1676| Senate 
| Updated: 7/31/2017
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (6)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act or the B-CROP Act This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loans and loan guarantees for broadband telecommunications services in rural areas. In making grants, loans, or loan guarantees under the program, USDA must give the highest priority to applicants that offer to provide broadband service to the greatest proportion of unserved rural households or rural households that do not have the minimum acceptable level of residential broadband service. USDA must then give priority to projects to serve rural communities that: have fewer than 10,000 permanent residents, are experiencing out-migration, have a high percentage of low-income residents, and are isolated from other significant population centers. A grant may not exceed 50% of the development cost of the project. USDA may increase the limit to 75% for projects that serve a remote or low-income area that does not have access to broadband service from any provider. USDA must: (1) provide technical assistance and training to entities that are eligible for the loans, loan guarantees, or grants; and (2) use a specified portion of the appropriations provided for the program for this purpose. The bill sets forth reporting requirements for recipients of the grants, loans, or loan guarantees.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 31, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 31, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Dec 5, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-4232
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
  • July 31, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 31, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • December 5, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-4232
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 115-4232: To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide grants for access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-3360: A bill to amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to improve access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, including by encouraging the provision of broadband loans and grants to increase broadband service in emerging harbor projects, and for other purposes.
Government lending and loan guaranteesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and development

A bill to amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide grants for access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1676| Senate 
| Updated: 7/31/2017
Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act or the B-CROP Act This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loans and loan guarantees for broadband telecommunications services in rural areas. In making grants, loans, or loan guarantees under the program, USDA must give the highest priority to applicants that offer to provide broadband service to the greatest proportion of unserved rural households or rural households that do not have the minimum acceptable level of residential broadband service. USDA must then give priority to projects to serve rural communities that: have fewer than 10,000 permanent residents, are experiencing out-migration, have a high percentage of low-income residents, and are isolated from other significant population centers. A grant may not exceed 50% of the development cost of the project. USDA may increase the limit to 75% for projects that serve a remote or low-income area that does not have access to broadband service from any provider. USDA must: (1) provide technical assistance and training to entities that are eligible for the loans, loan guarantees, or grants; and (2) use a specified portion of the appropriations provided for the program for this purpose. The bill sets forth reporting requirements for recipients of the grants, loans, or loan guarantees.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 31, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 31, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Dec 5, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-4232
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
  • July 31, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 31, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • December 5, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-4232
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (6)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 115-4232: To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide grants for access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-3360: A bill to amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to improve access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, including by encouraging the provision of broadband loans and grants to increase broadband service in emerging harbor projects, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Government lending and loan guaranteesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and development