Senators Welch and Marshall Introduce ReConnecting Rural America Act to Expand Access to Broadband in Rural Communities

Sens Peter Welch (D-VT) and Roger Marshall (R-KS)  introduced the bipartisan ReConnecting Rural America Act, legislation to reauthorize and reinforce the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Loan and Grant Program. ReConnect plays a central role in expanding access to high-speed broadband in rural communities, where broadband access is severely limited compared to what is available in urban and suburban areas. The ReConnecting Rural America Act will codify and clarify components of the ReConnect Program and, in so doing, reduce red tape, and speed broadband deployment. The bill will:  

• Establish 100/100 Mbps symmetrical buildout speeds for ReConnect;

• Clarify that USDA can make grants, loans, or grant-loan combinations under ReConnect;

• Set unserved definitions to ensure ReConnect reaches those who need broadband the most, and not building broadband where it is not needed; 

• Clarify that Communications Union Districts are eligible entities under ReConnect;  

• Improve coordination and communication among stakeholders at the federal level.