[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3084 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3084
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish the
ReConnect program under that Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 30, 2025
Mr. Marshall (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish the
ReConnect program under that Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``ReConnecting Rural America Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS.
(a) In General.--Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended--
(1) by striking subsections (a) through (f) and inserting
the following:
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide
assistance in the form of grants, loans, and combinations of grants and
loans for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition
of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Broadband service.--The term `broadband service'
means any technology identified by the Secretary as having the
capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service
to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics,
and video.
``(2) Rural area.--
``(A) In general.--The term `rural area' means any
area other than--
``(i) an area described in clause (i) or
(ii) of section 343(a)(13)(A) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)); and
``(ii) a city, town, or incorporated area
that has a population of greater than 20,000
inhabitants.
``(B) Urban area growth.--The Secretary may, by
regulation only, consider an area described in section
343(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of that Act to not be a rural area
for purposes of this section.
``(C) Exclusion of certain populations.--The term
`rural area' does not include any population described
in subparagraph (H) or (I) of section 343(a)(13) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)).
``(c) Grants, Loans, and Combinations.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants, loans,
and combinations of grants and loans to eligible entities
described in subsection (d) to provide funds for the
construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and
equipment for the provision of broadband service in rural
areas.
``(2) Project eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant,
loan, or grant and loan combination under paragraph (1), in
addition to the requirements of subsection (d), the project
that is the subject of the grant, loan, or grant and loan
combination shall--
``(A) provide broadband service of at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 100-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity; and
``(B) subject to paragraph (4), be carried out in a
proposed service territory in which at least 75 percent
of the households lack access to broadband service of
at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity.
``(3) Priority.--In making grants, loans, and grant and
loan combinations under paragraph (1), the Secretary--
``(A) shall give priority to applications for
projects to provide broadband service in a proposed
service territory in which at least 90 percent of
households lack access to broadband service of at
least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity; and
``(B) may give priority to applications for
projects to provide broadband service--
``(i) in proposed service territories--
``(I) with a population of less
than 10,000 permanent residents;
``(II) that are experiencing
outmigration and have adopted a
strategic community investment plan
under section 379H(d) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)) that includes
considerations for improving and
expanding broadband service;
``(III) with a high percentage of
low-income families or persons (as
defined in section 501(b) of the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1471(b))); or
``(IV) that are isolated from other
significant population centers;
``(ii) that would provide rapid and
expanded deployment of fixed and mobile
broadband service on cropland and ranchland
within the service territory for use in various
applications of precision agriculture; or
``(iii) submitted by an eligible entity
that has provided broadband service or other
utility service for not less than 5 years in
rural areas in the State in which the project
would be carried out.
``(4) Additional requirements for grant-only awards.--To be
eligible for assistance under paragraph (1) in the form of a
grant only, in addition to the requirements of subsection (d)--
``(A) an entity shall be--
``(i) a Tribal organization (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(ii) a colonia;
``(iii) a persistent poverty county, as
determined by the Secretary; or
``(iv) a socially vulnerable community, as
determined by the Secretary; or
``(B) the project that is the subject of the grant
shall be carried out in a proposed service territory in
which at least 90 percent of households lack access to
broadband service of at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity.
``(d) Eligibility.--
``(1) Eligible entities.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to obtain a
grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under
subsection (c), an entity shall--
``(i) submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary
may require;
``(ii) agree to complete buildout of the
broadband infrastructure described in the
application by not later than 5 years after the
initial date on which assistance under
subsection (c) is made available; and
``(iii) participate or agree to participate
in--
``(I) the Lifeline program under
subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code
of Federal Regulations (or any
successor regulation); or
``(II) any successor Federal
internet affordability assistance
program.
``(B) Inclusions.--An entity eligible to obtain a
grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under
subsection (c) may include--
``(i) a State or local government,
including any agency, subdivision,
instrumentality, or political subdivision of a
State or local government;
``(ii) a territory or possession of the
United States;
``(iii) an Indian Tribe (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(iv) a cooperative or mutual
organization;
``(v) an organization of 2 or more
incorporated areas that have established an
intermunicipal legal agreement for the purpose
of delivering communication services to
residents;
``(vi) a corporation; and
``(vii) a limited liability company or
limited liability partnership.
``(C) Ineligible entities.--An individual or legal
general partnership that is formed with individuals
shall not be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant
and loan combination under subsection (c).
``(D) Limitation.--
``(i) In general.--An eligible entity
described in this paragraph that provides
telecommunications or broadband service to at
least 20 percent of the households in the
United States may not receive an amount of
funds under this section for a fiscal year in
excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized
and appropriated under subsection (i) for the
fiscal year.
``(ii) States and state agencies and
instrumentalities.--A State or an agency or
instrumentality of a State may not, in total,
receive an amount of funds under this section
for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of
the funds authorized and appropriated under
subsection (i) for the fiscal year.
``(E) Previous awards.--An entity to which a grant,
loan, or grant and loan combination is made under
subsection (c) shall not use the grant, loan, or grant
and loan combination to deploy broadband service in a
service area in which broadband service is deployed by
any other entity that has received a broadband grant or
loan from the Rural Utilities Service, the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, the
Department of the Treasury, the Federal Communications
Commission, or a State broadband grant program, unless
the service provided by the other entity does not
provide to at least 75 percent of the households in the
service area access to broadband service of at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity.
``(2) Equity requirements.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may require an
entity to provide a cost share in an amount not to
exceed 25 percent of the amount of the grant (including
the grant in a grant and loan combination) under
subsection (c) requested in the application of the
entity.
``(B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the cost
share requirement under subparagraph (A) for entities
or projects described in subsection (c)(4).
``(3) Technical assistance and training.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide to
eligible entities described in paragraph (1) that are
applying for assistance under this section for a
project described in subsection (c)(3)(A) technical
assistance and training--
``(i) to prepare reports and surveys
necessary to request grants, loans, and grant
and loan combinations under this section for
broadband deployment;
``(ii) to improve management, including
financial management, relating to the proposed
broadband deployment;
``(iii) to prepare applications for grants,
loans, and grant and loan combinations under
this section; or
``(iv) to assist with other areas of need
identified by the Secretary.
``(B) Funding.--Not less than 3 percent and not
more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated under
subsection (i) to carry out this section for a fiscal
year shall be used for technical assistance and
training under this paragraph.
``(e) Broadband Service.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), for purposes
of this section, the minimum acceptable level of broadband
service for a rural area shall be at least--
``(A) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity;
and
``(B) a 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
``(2) Adjustments.--At least once every 2 years, the
Secretary shall review, and may adjust through notice published
in the Federal Register, the minimum acceptable level of
broadband service established under paragraph (1) and broadband
buildout requirements under paragraph (3) to ensure that high-
quality, cost-effective broadband service is provided to rural
areas over time.
``(3) Broadband buildout requirements.--
``(A) Definition of broadband buildout
requirement.--In this paragraph, the term `broadband
buildout requirement' means the level of internet
service an applicant receiving assistance under this
section must agree, at the time the application is
finalized, to provide for the duration of any project-
related agreement between the applicant and the
Department.
``(B) Establishment of broadband buildout
requirements.--The Secretary shall establish broadband
buildout requirements that--
``(i) utilize the same metrics used to
define the minimum acceptable level of
broadband service under paragraph (1); and
``(ii) reasonably ensure--
``(I) the repayment of all loans;
and
``(II) the financed network is
technically capable of providing
broadband service for the lifetime of
any project-related agreement.
``(C) Substitute service standards for unique
service territories.--
``(i) In general.--If an applicant shows
that it would be cost prohibitive to meet the
broadband buildout requirements established
under this paragraph for the entirety of a
proposed service territory due to the unique
characteristics of the proposed service
territory, the Secretary and the applicant may
agree to utilize substitute standards for any
unserved portion of the project.
``(ii) Requirement.--Any substitute service
standards described in clause (i) should
continue to consider the best technology
available to meet the needs of the residents in
the unserved area.'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), and (i) as
subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
(3) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Loans
and Loan Guarantees.--'' and inserting ``Loans.--'';
and
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``or loan guarantee''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking clause (ii);
(II) by striking ``Secretary--'' in
the matter preceding clause (i) and all
that follows through ``in the case'' in
the matter preceding subclause (I) of
clause (i) and inserting ``Secretary in
the case''; and
(III) by redesignating subclauses
(I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(4) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking
``or loan guarantee'' each place it appears;
(5) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(1), by striking ``1974)'' and inserting ``1974 (2 U.S.C.
661a))''; and
(6) by striking subsections (j) and (k) and inserting the
following:
``(i) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsections
(a) through (h) $650,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026
through 2030, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Administration.--Not more than 5 percent of the
amounts made available under paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be
available to the Secretary for the administration of
subsections (a) through (h).
``(3) Direct funding.--
``(A) Rescission.--There is rescinded the
unobligated balance of amounts made available to carry
out section 779 of division A of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141; 132 Stat.
399).
``(B) Direct funding.--On the day after the
execution of the rescission in subparagraph (A), there
is appropriated to the Secretary, out of amounts in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount equal to
the amount rescinded in subparagraph (A), to carry out
subsections (a) through (h), to remain available until
expended.
``(j) Additional Rural Broadband Program Loans.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide direct loans
in accordance with the requirements under this section, as in
effect on the day before the date of enactment of the
ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030, to remain available until expended.
``(k) Termination of Authority.--No grant, loan, or grant and loan
combination may be made under this section after September 30, 2030.''.
(b) Sunset.--Beginning on the date that is 120 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, section 779 of division A of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141; 132 Stat. 399), shall
have no force or effect.
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