Bridging the Broadband Gap Act of 2025
Bridging the Broadband Gap Act of 2025 would let recipients of funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program use some of those dollars to pilot broadband vouchers for households in certain areas. Specifically, it adds a new option under BEAD to provide vouchers to households in political subdivisions that lack adequate broadband. The vouchers would help cover equipment costs and monthly service charges for satellite or fixed wireless broadband, with a focus on lower-income areas within the eligible entity. Vouchers would be available for up to 12 consecutive months, and there are explicit limits on what the voucher can cover and who qualifies. In short, the bill seeks to shift a portion of BEAD funding toward direct household subsidies (vouchers) aimed at improving access for unserved/underserved households, using a priority determined by income levels within each BEAD recipient area.
Key Points
- 1New use of BEAD funds: Eligible BEAD recipients may use grant funds to provide broadband vouchers to households in political subdivisions that lack adequate broadband access.
- 2What vouchers cover: Vouchers may cover eligible broadband service costs, defined as 50% of the cost for broadband customer premises equipment (CPE) or the monthly lease/rental for CPE, plus the monthly service charge (up to $30 per month) for satellite or fixed wireless service.
- 312-month duration: Vouchers are available to cover costs for a single 12-month period.
- 4Eligibility and location: A household voucher is available only if the household resides in a location within the eligible entity’s political subdivision that is unserved or underserved.
- 5Priority and definitions: Priority is given to households in political subdivisions where per capita income is below the median per capita income of the eligible entity’s subdivisions. The bill also defines relevant terms, such as CPE and eligible service costs, to apply specifically to satellite or fixed wireless broadband.