119-s3084

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3084 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

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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