Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act

This bill, known as the "Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act," aims to improve access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas by amending the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. It introduces new priorities for federal broadband loans and grants, specifically prioritizing projects that deploy fixed and mobile broadband for precision agriculture on cropland and ranchland. The legislation also establishes an equal priority for applications that increase broadband service in rural ports , broadly defined to include various types of water-based and inland facilities. To ensure funding targets genuinely unserved areas, the bill mandates that the Secretary confirm eligibility of unserved rural communities through consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, along with site-specific testing. The Secretary must also review and adjust these identified communities at least every two years. The bill modifies grant maximums, allowing the Secretary to provide up to 75 percent of development costs for projects serving specific rural households and communities, an increase from the standard 50 percent. Recipients of assistance are required to provide geolocation information on new or upgraded broadband service within 30 days of project milestones or completion. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that at least 1 percent of funds be set aside for oversight and accountability measures. It also directs the Secretary to ensure funded projects provide a level of service not less than that offered through universal service high-cost support.