,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #eacg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #bi1 #bjbb,mr4
 ,?une 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,lujn1 ,ms4     
,klobu*>1 & ,mrs4 ,fis*]7 introduc$ !   
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,agriculture1        
,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry  ,a ,,bill  ,to    
am5d ! ,rural ,electrification ,act (   
#aicf to reau?orize & improve !         
,re,connect loan & grant program1 & =   
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,rural ,int]net        
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbb4  #b4 ,/reaml9+
 broadb& au?orities  7a7 ,9 g5]al       
,section #fja ( ! ,rural                
,electrification ,act ( #aicf 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by   
/rik+ ! section head+ & ins]t+          
,re,connect ,program2  7#b7 9 subsection
 7b7-- 7,a7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#c7 
z p>agraph 7#d72 &  7,b7 by ins]t+ aft] 
p>agraph 7#b7 ! foll[+3  7#c7           
,re,connect ,program ,! t]m ,re,connect 
,program means ! program e/abli%$ "u ?is

 section4  2  7#c7 9 subsection 7c7--   
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,a7-- 7i7 9 clause
 7i7-- 7,i7 9 subclause 7,i71 by /rik+  
#aj-,mbps & ins]t+ #be-,mbps2 &  7,,ii7 
9 subclause 7,,ii71 by /rik+ #a-,mbps & 
ins]t+ #c-,mbps2 &  7ii7 by /rik+ clause
 7iv7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7iv7 give     
priority to applications f applicants t 
h demon/rat$ ! te*nical & f9ancial      
exp]i5ce requir$ to con/ruct & op]ate   
broadb& networks4  2 &  7,b7 by add+ at 
! end ! foll[+3  7#e7 ,applications ,!  
,secret>y %all e/abli% an application   
process = grants1 loans1 & loan         
gu>antees "u ?is section t-- 7,a7 r$uces
 ! am\nt ( data requir$ to apply by     
limit+ ! requir$ data to only-- 7i7 !   
entity apply+1 exclud+ any p>5t or      
affiliate entity t is n a p>ty to !     
application1 to ! greate/ ext5t         
practicable2 &  7ii7 ! geographic area  
affect$ by ! application1 if a p>5t or  
affiliate is n a p>ty to ! application2 
7,b7 simplifies ! data int]faces =      
submission to ! greate/ ext5t           

practicable2 &  7,c7 all[s all          
applicants1 reg>dless ( :e!r an         
applicant is publicly trad$1 to rely on 
a bond rat+ ( at lea/ inve/m5t grade 7:5
 bond rat+s are available7 9 place (    
f9ancial docum5tation4  2  7#d7 9       
subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a7-- 
7i7 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 by /rik+        
subsection 7j7 & ins]t+ subsection 7l72 
&  7ii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,c7
 ,grant requirem5ts ,! ,secret>y-- 7i7  
%all n re/rict ! eligibility ( an entity
 = a grant "u ?is section bas$ on !     
legal /ructure ( ! entity2  7ii7 %all   
all[ entities to apply = a grant "u ?is 
section )\t reg>d to1 or pref]5ce =1 !  
legal /ructure ( an entity2  7iii7 9    
det]m9+ ! f9ancial ability ( an entity  
to c>ry out a project us+ a grant "u ?is
 section1 %all all[ ! entity to         
demon/rate t f9ancial ability by me?ods 
t-- 7,i7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be !   
lea/ burd5some2 &  7,,ii7 subject to    
clause 7v71 are n limit$ to provid+ !   
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t an exclusive fir/ li5  

on all grant-fund$ assets dur+ ! s]vice 
obligation ( ! grant2  7iv7 subject to  
clause 7v71 9 det]m9+ ! requir$         
collat]al to secure grant funds or to   
secure p]=mance dur+ ! s]vice obligation
 ( a grant1 %all all[ an aw>dee to (f]  
alt]native security1 su* z a lett] (    
cr$it1 9 lieu ( provid+ ! ,f$]al        
,gov]nm5t an exclusive fir/ li5 on all  
grant-fund$ assets2 &  7v7 if !         
,secret>y reasonably det]m9es t         
alt]native me?ods or alt]native security
 e/abli%$ "u clause 7iii77,,ii7 or 7iv7 
are insuffici5t to secure p]=mance )    
respect to a project "u ?is section--   
7,i7 may require an entity to provide ! 
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t an exclusive fir/ li5  
all grant-fund$ assets dur+ ! s]vice    
obligation ( ! grant2 &  7,,ii7 %all    
release t li5 aft] ! ,secret>y det]m9es 
t ! entity is p]=m+ to ! satisfaction ( 
! ,secret>y4  2 &  7,b7 9 p>agraph      
7#b7-- 7i7 9 subp>agraph 7,a77i71 by    
/rik+ #ej & ins]t+ #ij2 &  7ii7 by add+ 
at ! end ! foll[+3  7,d7 ,obligations to

 provide broadb& s]vice 9 ! same s]vice 
t]ritory  7i7 ,def9ition ( broadb&      
infra/ructure ,9 ?is subp>agraph1 ! t]m 
broadb& infra/ructure means any cables1 
fib] optics1 wir+1 or o!r p]man5t       
infra/ructure t is integral to !        
/ructure1 includ+ fix$ wireless         
infra/ructure1 t-- 7,i7 is capable (    
provid+ access to int]net connections 9 
individual locations2 &  7,,ii7 (f]s an 
advanc$ telecommunications capability 7z
 def9$ 9 section #gjf7;d7 ( !           
,telecommunications ,act ( #aiif 7#dg   
,u4,s4,c4 #acjb7;d7774  7ii7 ,o!r       
provid]s ,! ,secret>y %all consid] a    
propos$ s]vice t]ritory ) respect to :i*
 an eligible entity submits an          
application to c>ry out a project "u ?is
 section to be s]v$ by broadb& s]vice if
 a broadb& s]vice provid] o!r ?an t     
eligible entity is subject to an        
obligation by a ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local 
gov]nm5t entity to build broadb&        
infra/ructure & (f] broadb& s]vice 9 t  
s]vice t]ritory1 subject to conditions--

 7,i7 "u a ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local fund+
 aw>d program2 or  7,,ii7 o!rwise       
requir$ by ! ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local    
gov]nm5t entity4  7iii7 ,o!r fund+      
,subject to clause 7iv71 ! ,secret>y    
%all n be requir$ to consid] a propos$  
s]vice t]ritory ) respect to :i* an     
eligible entity submits an application  
to c>ry out a project "u ?is section to 
be s]v$ by broadb& s]vice if t eligible 
entity has accept$ an obligation "u a   
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local fund+ aw>d      
program to build broadb& infra/ructure &
 (f] broadb& s]vice 9 t s]vice t]ritory1
 if ! propos$ project "u ?is section--  
7,i7 w\ld n be duplicative ( !          
obligation "u ! o!r aw>d program2 &     
7,,ii7 w\ld build broadb& infra/ructure 
t results 9 fa/] spe$s or exp$it$       
mile/ones ( deploym5t ( broadb&         
infra/ructure 9 t s]vice t]ritory1 z    
comp>$ to ! obligation "u ! o!r aw>d    
program4  7iv7 ,o!r obligations = l[]   
transmission capacity ,! ,secret>y %all 
consid] a propos$ s]vice t]ritory )     

respect to :i* an eligible entity       
submits an application to c>ry out a    
project "u ?is section to be uns]v$ by  
broadb& s]vice if an obligation "u ano!r
 aw>d program describ$ 9 clause 7iii7   
w\ld n provide broadb& s]vice ( at      
lea/-- 7,i7 a #be-,mbps d[n/ream        
transmission capacity2 &  7,,ii7 a      
#c-,mbps up/ream transmission capacity4 
7,e7 ,requirem5ts = fund+  7i7          
,affiliate own$ & op]at$ networks ,a    
grant1 loan1 or loan gu>antee "u ?is    
section may be us$ to con/ruct networks 
t w be own$ & op]at$ by an affiliate ( !
 eligible entity receiv+ ! grant1 loan1 
or loan gu>antee1 subject to ! condition
 t ! eligible entity1 ! affiliate1 or   
bo?1 z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be       
necess>y1 %all provide adequate security
 = ! grant1 loan1 or loan gu>antee4     
7ii7 ,negative cov5ants & conditions ,to
 ! greate/ ext5t practicable1 a project 
c>ri$ out us+ a grant1 loan1 or loan    
gu>antee "u ?is section %all n add any  
new negative cov5ants or conditions to !

 grant1 loan1 or loan gu>antee agreem5t 
t 7 n previ\sly disclos$ to ! eligible  
entity at ! "t ( application = ! grant1 
loan1 or loan gu>antee4  7iii7 ,own]%ip 
( sy/ems  7,i7 ,9 g5]al ,a network      
con/ruct$ ) a grant1 loan1 or loan      
gu>antee "u ?is section may be transf]r$
 to an unaffiliat$ provid] t agrees--   
7aa7 to assume ! s]vice obligation2 &   
7bb7 to provide appropriate & suffici5t 
security = t network4  7,,ii7           
,det]m9ation ,! ,secret>y %all n        
unreasonably )hold cons5t to ent] into  
an appropriate agreem5t describ$ 9      
subclause 7,i7 ) ! transf]ee bas$ on an 
evaluation by ! ,secret>y ( ! ability ( 
! transf]ee to assume ! agreem5t &      
provide security describ$ 9 item 7bb7 ( 
t subclause4  7iv7 ,report+ & audit+ ,! 
,secret>y %all-- 7,i7 simplify1 to !    
maximum ext5t practicable1 ongo+ report+
 & audit+ requirem5ts = recipi5ts ( a   
grant1 loan1 or loan gu>antee "u ?is    
section2 &  7,,ii7 all[ a recipi5t      
describ$ 9 subclause 7,i7 ^: f9ancial   

in=mation is consolidat$ ) ! f9ancial   
in=mation ( a p>5t entity to rely on t  
consolidat$ f9ancial in=mation 9 comply+
 ) ! requirem5ts describ$ 9 t subclause 
if ! p>5t entity is provid+ a gu>antee  
on behalf ( a subsidi>y ( ! p>5t entity 
) respect to ! grant1 loan1 or loan     
gu>antee4  7v7 ,procurem5t & contract+  
,! ,secret>y-- 7,i7 %all simplify1 to ! 
maximum ext5t practicable1 requirem5ts =
 recipi5ts ( a grant1 loan1 or loan     
gu>antee "u ?is section relat+ to !     
procurem5t ( mat]ials & ret5tion (      
contractors2 &  7,,ii7 %all n           
unreasonably re/rict ! ability ( a      
recipi5t describ$ 9 subclause 7,i7 to   
obta9 goods & s]vices f affiliat$       
entities4  2  7#e7 9 subsection         
7e77#a7-- 7,a7 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 by   
/rik+ #be-,mbps & ins]t+ #ajj-,mbps2 &  
7,b7 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 by /rik+       
#c-,mbps & ins]t+ #bj-,mbps2  7#f7 by   
r$esignat+ subsections 7j7 & 7k7 z      
subsections 7l7 & 7m71 respectively2    
7#g7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7i7 !    

foll[+3  7j7 ,regulations ,! ,secret>y  
%all issue regulations to c>ry out ?is  
section 9 accordance ) section #eec (   
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7k7     
,annual reports ,n lat] ?an #abj days   
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,rural       
,int]net ,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbb1 & n  
less frequ5tly ?an annually !reaft]1 !  
,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 publi% a report   
describ+-- 7,a7 ! di/ribution ( am\nts  
made available "u ! ,re,connect ,program
 = ! prec$+ ye>2  7,b7 ! numb] (        
locations at :i* broadb& s]vice 0 made  
available us+ am\nts "u ! ,re,connect   
,program = ! prec$+ ye>2  7,c7 ! numb] (
 locations describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7  
at :i* broadb& s]vice 0 us$2 &  7,d7 !  
highe/ level ( broadb& s]vice made      
available at ea* location describ$ 9    
subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7#b7 submit !      
report describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 to--    
7,a7 ! ,committee on ,agriculture1      
,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry ( ! ,s5ate2  7,b7 !
 ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 &     
,transportation ( ! ,s5ate2  7,c7 !     

,committee on ,agriculture ( ! ,h\se (  
,repres5tatives2 &  7,d7 ! ,committee on
 ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives4  2 &  7#h7 9 subsection
 7l7 7z s r$esignat$71 9 p>agraph 7#a71 
by /rik+ #cej1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal    
ye>s #bjai ?r\gh #bjbc & ins]t+ su* sums
 z are necess>y = ea* fiscal ye>4  7b7  
,sunset ,beg9n+ on ! date t is #abj days
 aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1     
section #ggi ( division ,a ( !          
,consolidat$ ,appropriations ,act1 #bjah
 7,public ,law #aae-ada2 #acb ,/at4     
#cii71 %all h no =ce or effect4  7c7    
,transf] ( am\nts ,! unobligat$ balance1
 z ( ! date t is #abj days aft] ! date (
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ( any am\nts made 
available to c>ry out ! pilot program   
describ$ 9 section #ggi ( division ,a ( 
! ,consolidat$ ,appropriations ,act1    
#bjah 7,public ,law #aae-ada2 #acb ,/at4
 #cii7-- 7#a7 is transf]r$ to1 & m]g$ )1
 am\nts made available to c>ry out      
section #fja ( ! ,rural ,electrification
 ,act ( #aicf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb72 & 

7#b7 %all rema9 available1 until exp5d$1
 & )\t fur!r appropriation1 to c>ry out 
! ,re,connect ,program e/abli%$ "u t    
section4  7d7 ,effect ,title ,,vi ( !   
,rural ,electrification ,act ( #aicf 7#g
 ,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb et seq47 is am5d$ by 
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #fjg4 ,effect  
,no?+ 9 ?is title au?orizes ! ,secret>y 
to regulate rates *>g$ = broadb& s]vice4
  4  7e7 ,public notice1 assessm5ts1 &  
report+ requirem5ts ,section #gja ( !   
,rural ,electrification ,act ( #aicf 7#g
 ,u4,s4,c4 #iej;cc7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9   
subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph        
7#a77;,a71 by ins]t+ 1 includ+ a        
complete %apefile map aft] applicant2 & 
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,d71 by /rik+ 7c7 
& ins]t+ 7d72  7#b7 by r$esignat+       
subsections 7b7 ?r\gh 7e7 z subsections 
7c7 ?r\gh 7f71 respectively2  7#c7 by   
ins]t+ aft] subsection 7a7 ! foll[+3    
7b7 ,*all5ge process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!  
,secret>y %all e/abli% a transp>5t1     
evid5ce bas$1 & exp$iti\s process =     
*all5g+1 ) respect to any area = :i*    

assi/ance is s\ght "u an application    
describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a71 :e!r t   
area has access to broadb& s]vice4  7#b7
 ,notice ,! ,secret>y %all make publicly
 available on ! website ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,agriculture a writt5 notice describ+-- 
7,a7 ! decision ( ! ,secret>y on ea*    
*all5ge submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a72 &    
7,b7 ! reasons = ea* decision describ$ 9
 subp>agraph 7,a74  2 &  7#d7 by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+3  7g7 ,public notice (  
eligible fund+ areas ,prior to mak+     
available to ! public ! database "u     
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all make   
available to ! public a fully se>*able  
database on ! website ( ! ,rural        
,utilities ,s]vice t conta9s in=mation  
on areas eligible = assi/ance "u retail 
broadb& projects t are adm9i/]$ by !    
,secret>y 9 accordance ) ! maps creat$  
by ! ,f$]al ,communications ,commission 
"u section #hjb7;c77#a7 ( !             
,communications ,act ( #aicd 7#dg       
,u4,s4,c4 #fdb7;c77#a774  4  7f7 ,f$]al 
broadb& program coord9ation ,section    

#fbab ( ! ,agriculture ,improvem5t ,act 
( #bjah 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb-#f7 is    
am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ subsections  
7a71 7b71 7c71 & 7d7 z subsections 7b71 
7c71 7e71 & 7a71 respectively1 & mov+ ! 
subsections s z to appe> 9 alphabetical 
ord]2  7#b7 9 subsection 7a7 7z s       
r$esignat$71 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by /rik+  
section #fja7;b77#c7 ( ! ,rural         
,electrification ,act ( #aicf & ins]t+  
section #fja7;b7 ( ! ,rural             
,electrification ,act ( #aicf 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb7b772  7#c7 9          
subsection 7c7 7z s r$esignat$71 9      
p>agraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ ,!        
,secret>y & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,! ,secret>y  2 &  7,b7 by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+3  7,b7 ,re,connect      
,program ,on aw>d+ a grant1 loan1 or    
loan gu>antee "u ! ,re,connect ,program 
e/abli%$ "u section #fja ( ! ,rural     
,electrification ,act ( #aicf 7#g       
,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb71 ! ,secret>y %all    
notify ! ,commission ( t aw>d4  2 &     
7#d7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7c7 7z s 

r$esignat$7 ! foll[+3  7d7 ,memor&um (  
und]/&+ relat+ to outrea* ,! ,secret>y  
%all ent] into a memor&um ( und]/&+ ) ! 
,assi/ant ,secret>y & ! ,commission to  
facilitate outrea* to resid5ts &        
bus9esses 9 rural areas1 includ+-- 7#a7 
to evaluate ! broadb& s]vice ne$s 9     
rural areas2  7#b7 to in=m resid5ts &   
bus9esses 9 rural areas ( available     
,f$]al programs t promote broadb&       
access1 broadb& af=dability1 & broadb&  
inclusion2 &  7#c7 = su* additional     
goals z ! ,secret>y1 ! ,assi/ant        
,secret>y1 & ! ,commission det]m9e to be
 appropriate4  4