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119th Congress

S. 98

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor
Shelley Moore Capito(R-WV)
Introduced
Jan 15, 2025
Policy area
Science, Technology, Communications
Committees
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Official text
Engrossed in Senate · Congress.gov page

Cosponsors (4)

Original cosponsors (2)

Added later (2)

Summary

Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Public Law” version

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 This act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vet the qualifications of applicants for certain funding programs that support affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas (e.g., rural communities). Specifically, the FCC must develop a vetting process for applicants seeking funding under high-cost universal service programs for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network. The FCC must require applicants to submit a proposal that contains sufficient detail and documentation for the FCC to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities related to the proposed deployment and has a reasonable business plan. The FCC must evaluate applications against reasonable and well-established standards and must consider each applicant’s history of compliance with the requirements of other government broadband funding programs. The FCC must establish this vetting process through a rulemaking proceeding. After the rule is finalized, funds may only be awarded to applicants that satisfy the standards established therein. Finally, the FCC must set financial penalties for applicants that default in some manner during the evaluation process before they are authorized to begin receiving support.

Roll-call votes

No recorded votes on this bill.

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