House Agriculture Republicans Introduce Broadband for Rural America Act

House Agriculture Republicans introduced the Broadband For Rural America Act (HR 3369), one of several infrastructure proposals from House Republicans that bridge the digital divide for communities nationwide. The proposal from House Agriculture Republicans provides more than $7 billion in authorizations for Department of Agriculture broadband connectivity programs. The Broadband For Rural America Act:

• Authorizes $3.7 billion per year for critical rural broadband programs, including the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program, the Middle Mile Broadband Program, and the Innovative Broadband Advancement Program
• Targets limited resources so assistance is focused on the most rural and least-connected residents, which are often the most expensive to connect
• Promotes borrower accountability and protects taxpayers with new tools to ensure promised services are delivered to rural communities

A group of 22 Republicans are co-sponsoring this new bill, led by House Agriculture Ranking Member G.T. Thompson (R-PA). “USDA is the one that has the expertise,” he said. “The [Federal Communications Commission's] had their chance, and they haven’t gotten it done,” Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) said. Rural broadband was a frequent banner issue FCC’s GOP leadership touted during the Trump era, including when it held a $9.2 billion rural broadband subsidy auction. “I don’t know that sending every dollar to one particular entity is a necessity,” but money going to different agencies will require coordination, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said when asked about the proposal. Even so, he said, “we’re headed very much in the right direction.”