Congress Provides More Money for Rural Broadband Deployment

On March 15, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 which provides funding through September 30, 2022 for projects and activities of the Federal Government. Much of the coverage of the law highlights the $13.6 billion in funding to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact on surrounding countries. But there's also more funding for broadband in the new law. And, with the return of earmarks—now known as "congressionally directed spending" or "community-project funding"—some specific broadband projects will now be funded. The law provides a total of nearly $4 billion for rural development programs. Over $550 million of these development funds are targeted to expand broadband service in rural areas to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services, such as through the ReConnect program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 also allocates $62.5 million to be used for grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas. Such funds may be used to finance the construction of facilities and systems providing telemedicine services and distance learning services.

[Kevin Taglang is executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]