Rural Broadband Assistance Act
The Rural Broadband Assistance Act would amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to create a formal Broadband Technical Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture. The core idea is to provide grants to eligible entities (including Tribes, state and local governments, territories, colleges and universities, nonprofits, cooperatives, corporations, and LLCs/LLPs) so they can offer or receive technical assistance and training to expand rural broadband access through USDA broadband programs. Eligible activities cover a wide range of support, such as helping with grant/loan applications, identifying financing resources, preparing feasibility and environmental studies, conducting market research, improving operational management, and collecting infrastructure data. The bill also sets out priorities for grant selection (favoring those with prior experience in rural technical assistance) and allows national or multi-state, on-site community training and assistance. The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Taylor (with Rep. Sorensen) and referred to the Agriculture and Energy and Commerce committees. It does not specify a funding level in the text provided, nor does it detail program administration beyond the outlined activities and eligibility criteria.
Key Points
- 1Establishes Broadband Technical Assistance Program under the Rural Electrification Act to fund technical assistance and training for expanding rural broadband through USDA programs.
- 2Eligible activities funded by the program include: preparing grant/loan applications; identifying financing resources; conducting feasibility studies, financial forecasts, market surveys, environmental studies, and technical design work; producing reports on demand and pricing; improving management and financial efficiency of broadband facilities; collecting infrastructure data; and addressing other needs identified by the Secretary.
- 3Eligible recipients for technical assistance grants include: federally recognized tribes, state and local governments, territories, higher education institutions (including specific land-grant categories), nonprofits (501(c)(3)), cooperatives or mutual organizations, corporations, and LLCs/LLPs.
- 4Selection priority given to organizations with prior experience providing technical assistance and training to rural entities.
- 5Allows national or multi-state on-site community technical assistance and training applications, enabling broader geographic reach beyond individual projects.