House Committee Approves $43 Billion Rural Broadband Bill

The House Agriculture Committee approved a bill (HR.4374) to provide $43 billion over eight years to bring broadband service to hundreds of thousands of families and businesses that lack access. The bulk of the money, $36 billion, would go to loans, grants, and loan guarantees for the construction or improvement of internet service in small towns and rural areas with poor or no service. An additional $2.4 billion would pay for pilot projects to test various broadband technologies. A “broadband mapping” provision would help local groups measure their internet service and prove they need better service, as there have been complaints for years that internet providers overstate their coverage areas and connectivity speeds. Although committee support for the broadband bill was bipartisan, Democrats did most of the talking during the two-hour session, which ended with approval of the bill with no objections. The broadband bill carried a hefty price tag, yet was no guarantee the money would flow; if the bill becomes law, Congress would have to hold separate votes to provide funding.