Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2026

This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a competitive grant program for states aimed at increasing enrollment in the Lifeline program. These grants will fund activities to inform individuals, especially those eligible but not yet enrolled, about their potential eligibility for Lifeline. States applying for these funds must detail the number of covered individuals, their planned outreach activities, and the estimated percentage of eligible individuals they expect to reach, with favorable consideration given to states with higher numbers of covered individuals and effective outreach plans.

Grant recipients must use the funds to inform individuals and organizations about Lifeline eligibility, provide application instructions, and partner with community groups to offer application assistance and information on product choices. Additionally, the bill mandates a separate grant program to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier. This program provides grants to states to establish or improve connections between their databases, which contain information on participation in other benefit programs, and the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier. The goal is to enable automatic verification of Lifeline eligibility, thereby streamlining the enrollment process for qualifying low-income consumers.