Agriculture Committee, Appropriations Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand access to high-speed broadband service in rural areas across the United States. It amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a new ReConnect program , offering financial assistance through grants, loans, and grant-loan combinations to fund the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment. To qualify, projects must provide at least 100 Mbps downstream and 100 Mbps upstream transmission capacity, targeting service territories where at least 75 percent of households lack 100/20 Mbps broadband. Priority is given to areas with 90 percent unserved households, and may also favor projects in smaller, economically distressed, or isolated communities, or those ensuring prevailing wages. Eligible entities include state and local governments, Indian Tribes, cooperatives, and corporations, with limitations on large providers and states. Funded entities must complete buildout within five years and participate in federal internet affordability programs , while the Secretary may require a waivable cost share for grants. The bill authorizes $650 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the main ReConnect program, plus $350 million per year for other rural broadband loans. It also reappropriates prior unobligated funds, allocating 3 to 5 percent for technical assistance , with the program's authority to make new awards terminating after September 30, 2030.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations, 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.
The ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand access to high-speed broadband service in rural areas across the United States. It amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a new ReConnect program , offering financial assistance through grants, loans, and grant-loan combinations to fund the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment. To qualify, projects must provide at least 100 Mbps downstream and 100 Mbps upstream transmission capacity, targeting service territories where at least 75 percent of households lack 100/20 Mbps broadband. Priority is given to areas with 90 percent unserved households, and may also favor projects in smaller, economically distressed, or isolated communities, or those ensuring prevailing wages. Eligible entities include state and local governments, Indian Tribes, cooperatives, and corporations, with limitations on large providers and states. Funded entities must complete buildout within five years and participate in federal internet affordability programs , while the Secretary may require a waivable cost share for grants. The bill authorizes $650 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the main ReConnect program, plus $350 million per year for other rural broadband loans. It also reappropriates prior unobligated funds, allocating 3 to 5 percent for technical assistance , with the program's authority to make new awards terminating after September 30, 2030.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations, 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.