Budget Bill Includes Rural Broadband Bucks

The budget bill that passed in the wee hours of the morning of Feb 9 included $20 billion for infrastructure initiatives, at least some of which will go to broadband buildouts.

The money is divided into two tranches, $10 billion for FY18 and $10 billion for FY 2019, according to House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). The money will be spread among a number of projects--waste and drinking water and transportation--but also for the rural broadband deployment, which President Donald Trump recently said was a priority given the need to connect farmers. “Today’s agreement marks an important step forward on several priorities the Energy and Commerce Committee has championed for many months," Chairman Walden said.