,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cjhd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,octob] #cj1 #bjbe,mr4 
,m>%all 7= himself & ,mr4 ,wel*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 e/abli%
 ! ,re,connect program "u t ,act1 & =   
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,re,connecting ,rural  
,am]ica ,act ( #bjbe4  #b4 ,access to   
broadb& telecommunications s]vices 9    
rural areas  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #fja 
( ! ,rural ,electrification ,act ( #aicf
 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 
by /rik+ subsections 7a7 ?r\gh 7f7 &    
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7a7 ,purpose ,!       
purpose ( ?is section is to provide     
assi/ance 9 ! =m ( grants1 loans1 &     
comb9ations ( grants & loans = ! co/s ( 
! con/ruction1 improvem5t1 & acquisition
 ( facilities & equipm5t = broadb&      
s]vice 9 rural areas4  7b7 ,def9itions  

,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,broadb& s]vice ,! 
t]m broadb& s]vice means any te*nology  
id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y z hav+ !        
capacity to transmit data to enable a   
subscrib] to ! s]vice to orig9ate &     
receive high-quality voice1 data1       
graphics1 & video4  7#b7 ,rural area    
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m rural area means   
any area o!r ?an-- 7i7 an area describ$ 
9 clause 7i7 or 7ii7 ( section          
#cdc7;a77#ac77;,a7 ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m
 & ,rural ,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4
 #aiia7;a77#ac77;,a772 &  7ii7 a city1  
t[n1 or incorporat$ area t has a        
population ( great] ?an #bj1jjj         
inhabitants4  7,b7 ,urban area gr[? ,!  
,secret>y may1 by regulation only1      
consid] an area describ$ 9 section      
#cdc7;a77#ac77;,f77i77,i7 ( t ,act to n 
be a rural area = purposes ( ?is        
section4  7,c7 ,exclusion ( c]ta9       
populations ,! t]m rural area does n    
include any population describ$ 9       
subp>agraph 7,h7 or 7,i7 ( section      
#cdc7;a77#ac7 ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m &   

,rural ,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4   
#aiia7;a77#ac774  7c7 ,grants1 loans1 & 
comb9ations  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y 
%all make grants1 loans1 & comb9ations (
 grants & loans to eligible entities    
describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 to provide    
funds = ! con/ruction1 improvem5t1 or   
acquisition ( facilities & equipm5t = ! 
provision ( broadb& s]vice 9 rural      
areas4  7#b7 ,project eligibility ,to be
 eligible = a grant1 loan1 or grant &   
loan comb9ation "u p>agraph 7#a71 9     
addition to ! requirem5ts ( subsection  
7d71 ! project t is ! subject ( ! grant1
 loan1 or grant & loan comb9ation %all--
 7,a7 provide broadb& s]vice ( at lea/--
 7i7 a #ajj-,mbps d[n/ream transmission 
capacity2 &  7ii7 a #ajj-,mbps up/ream  
transmission capacity2 &  7,b7 subject  
to p>agraph 7#d71 be c>ri$ out 9 a      
propos$ s]vice t]ritory 9 :i* at lea/   
#ge p]c5t ( ! h\seholds lack access to  
broadb& s]vice ( at lea/-- 7i7 a        
#ajj-,mbps d[n/ream transmission        
capacity2 &  7ii7 a #bj-,mbps up/ream   

transmission capacity4  7#c7 ,priority  
,9 mak+ grants1 loans1 & grant & loan   
comb9ations "u p>agraph 7#a71 !         
,secret>y-- 7,a7 %all give priority to  
applications = projects to provide      
broadb& s]vice 9 a propos$ s]vice       
t]ritory 9 :i* at lea/ #ij p]c5t (      
h\seholds lack access to broadb& s]vice 
( at lea/-- 7i7 a #ajj-,mbps d[n/ream   
transmission capacity2 &  7ii7 a        
#bj-,mbps up/ream transmission capacity2
 &  7,b7 may give priority to           
applications = projects to provide      
broadb& s]vice-- 7i7 9 propos$ s]vice   
t]ritories-- 7,i7 ) a population ( less 
?an #aj1jjj p]man5t resid5ts2  7,,ii7 t 
are exp]i5c+ outmigration & h adopt$ a  
/rategic community inve/m5t plan "u     
section #cgi;,h7d7 ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m
 & ,rural ,developm5t ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4
 #bjjhv7d77 t includes consid]ations =  
improv+ & exp&+ broadb& s]vice2  7,,iii7
 ) a high p]c5tage ( l[-income families 
or p]sons 7z def9$ 9 section #eja7;b7 ( 
! ,h\s+ ,act ( #aidi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     

#adga7;b7772 or  7,,iv7 t are isolat$ f 
o!r significant population c5t]s2  7ii7 
t w\ld provide rapid & exp&$ deploym5t (
 fix$ & mobile broadb& s]vice on cropl& 
& ran*l& )9 ! s]vice t]ritory = use 9   
v>i\s applications ( precision          
agriculture2 or  7iii7 submitt$ by an   
eligible entity t has provid$ broadb&   
s]vice or o!r utility s]vice = n less   
?an #e ye>s 9 rural areas 9 ! ,/ate 9   
:i* ! project w\ld be c>ri$ out4  7#d7  
,additional requirem5ts = grant-only    
aw>ds ,to be eligible = assi/ance "u    
p>agraph 7#a7 9 ! =m ( a grant only1 9  
addition to ! requirem5ts ( subsection  
7d7-- 7,a7 an entity %all be-- 7i7 a    
,tribal organization 7z def9$ 9 section 
#d ( ! ,indian ,self-,det]m9ation &     
,education ,assi/ance ,act 7#be         
,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd772  7ii7 a colonia2     
7iii7 a p]si/5t pov]ty c\nty1 z det]m9$ 
by ! ,secret>y2 or  7iv7 a socially     
vuln]able community1 z det]m9$ by !     
,secret>y2 or  7,b7 ! project t is !    
subject ( ! grant %all be c>ri$ out 9 a 

propos$ s]vice t]ritory 9 :i* at lea/   
#ij p]c5t ( h\seholds lack access to    
broadb& s]vice ( at lea/-- 7i7 a        
#ajj-,mbps d[n/ream transmission        
capacity2 &  7ii7 a #bj-,mbps up/ream   
transmission capacity4  7d7 ,eligibility
  7#a7 ,eligible entities  7,a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,to be eligible to obta9 a grant1 loan1
 or grant & loan comb9ation "u          
subsection 7c71 an entity %all-- 7i7    
submit to ! ,secret>y an application at 
su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su*      
in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require2    
7ii7 agree to complete build\t ( !      
broadb& infra/ructure describ$ 9 !      
application by n lat] ?an #e ye>s aft] !
 initial date on :i* assi/ance "u       
subsection 7c7 is made available2 &     
7iii7 p>ticipate or agree to p>ticipate 
9-- 7,i7 ! ,lifel9e program "u subp>t ,e
 ( "p #ed ( title #dg1 ,code ( ,f$]al   
,regulations 7or any successor          
regulation72 or  7,,ii7 any successor   
,f$]al int]net af=dability assi/ance    
program4  7,b7 ,inclusions ,an entity   

eligible to obta9 a grant1 loan1 or     
grant & loan comb9ation "u subsection   
7c7 may include-- 7i7 a ,/ate or local  
gov]nm5t1 includ+ any ag5cy1            
subdivision1 in/rum5tality1 or political
 subdivision ( a ,/ate or local         
gov]nm5t2  7ii7 a t]ritory or possession
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7iii7 an ,indian   
,tribe 7z def9$ 9 section #d ( ! ,indian
 ,self-,det]m9ation & ,education        
,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd772 
7iv7 a coop]ative or mutual             
organization2  7v7 an organization ( #b 
or m incorporat$ areas t h e/abli%$ an  
int]municipal legal agreem5t = ! purpose
 ( deliv]+ communication s]vices to     
resid5ts2  7vi7 a corporation2 &  7vii7 
a limit$ liability company or limit$    
liability p>tn]%ip4  7,c7 ,ineligible   
entities ,an individual or legal g5]al  
p>tn]%ip t is =m$ ) individuals %all n  
be eligible to obta9 a grant1 loan1 or  
grant & loan comb9ation "u subsection   
7c74  7,d7 ,limitation  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,an
 eligible entity describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph

 t provides telecommunications or       
broadb& s]vice to at lea/ #bj p]c5t ( ! 
h\seholds 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates may n       
receive an am\nt ( funds "u ?is section 
= a fiscal ye> 9 excess ( #ae p]c5t ( ! 
funds au?oriz$ & appropriat$ "u         
subsection 7i7 = ! fiscal ye>4  7ii7    
,/ates & ,/ate ag5cies & in/rum5talities
 ,a ,/ate or an ag5cy or in/rum5tality (
 a ,/ate may n1 9 total1 receive an     
am\nt ( funds "u ?is section = a fiscal 
ye> 9 excess ( #ae p]c5t ( ! funds      
au?oriz$ & appropriat$ "u subsection 7i7
 = ! fiscal ye>4  7,e7 ,previ\s aw>ds   
,an entity to :i* a grant1 loan1 or     
grant & loan comb9ation is made "u      
subsection 7c7 %all n use ! grant1 loan1
 or grant & loan comb9ation to deploy   
broadb& s]vice 9 a s]vice area 9 :i*    
broadb& s]vice is deploy$ by any o!r    
entity t has receiv$ a broadb& grant or 
loan f ! ,rural ,utilities ,s]vice1 !   
,national ,telecommunications &         
,in=mation ,adm9i/ration1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
! ,treasury1 ! ,f$]al ,communications   

,commission1 or a ,/ate broadb& grant   
program1 unless ! s]vice provid$ by !   
o!r entity does n provide to at lea/ #ge
 p]c5t ( ! h\seholds 9 ! s]vice area    
access to broadb& s]vice ( at lea/-- 7i7
 a #ajj-,mbps d[n/ream transmission     
capacity2 &  7ii7 a #bj-,mbps up/ream   
transmission capacity4  7#b7 ,equity    
requirem5ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y 
may require an entity to provide a co/  
%>e 9 an am\nt n to exce$ #be p]c5t ( ! 
am\nt ( ! grant 7includ+ ! grant 9 a    
grant & loan comb9ation7 "u subsection  
7c7 reque/$ 9 ! application ( ! entity4 
7,b7 ,waiv] ,! ,secret>y may waive ! co/
 %>e requirem5t "u subp>agraph 7,a7 =   
entities or projects describ$ 9         
subsection 7c77#d74  7#c7 ,te*nical     
assi/ance & tra9+  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!     
,secret>y may provide to eligible       
entities describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 t are 
apply+ = assi/ance "u ?is section = a   
project describ$ 9 subsection           
7c77#c77;,a7 te*nical assi/ance &       
tra9+-- 7i7 to prep>e reports & surveys 

necess>y to reque/ grants1 loans1 &     
grant & loan comb9ations "u ?is section 
= broadb& deploym5t2  7ii7 to improve   
managem5t1 includ+ f9ancial managem5t1  
relat+ to ! propos$ broadb& deploym5t2  
7iii7 to prep>e applications = grants1  
loans1 & grant & loan comb9ations "u ?is
 section2 or  7iv7 to assi/ ) o!r areas 
( ne$ id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y4  7,b7    
,fund+ ,n less ?an #c p]c5t & n m ?an #e
 p]c5t ( am\nts appropriat$ "u          
subsection 7i7 to c>ry out ?is section =
 a fiscal ye> %all be us$ = te*nical    
assi/ance & tra9+ "u ?is p>agraph4  7e7 
,broadb& s]vice  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject 
to p>agraph 7#b71 = purposes ( ?is      
section1 ! m9imum acceptable level (    
broadb& s]vice = a rural area %all be at
 lea/-- 7,a7 a #ajj-,mbps d[n/ream      
transmission capacity2 &  7,b7 a        
#ajj-,mbps up/ream transmission         
capacity4  7#b7 ,adju/m5ts ,at lea/ once
 e #b ye>s1 ! ,secret>y %all review1 &  
may adju/ ?r\gh notice publi%$ 9 !      
,f$]al ,regi/]1 ! m9imum acceptable     

level ( broadb& s]vice e/abli%$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 & broadb& build\t         
requirem5ts "u p>agraph 7#c7 to ensure t
 high-quality1 co/-effective broadb&    
s]vice is provid$ to rural areas ov] "t4
  7#c7 ,broadb& build\t requirem5ts     
7,a7 ,def9ition ( broadb& build\t       
requirem5t ,9 ?is p>agraph1 ! t]m       
broadb& build\t requirem5t means ! level
 ( int]net s]vice an applicant receiv+  
assi/ance "u ?is section mu/ agree1 at !
 "t ! application is f9aliz$1 to provide
 = ! duration ( any project-relat$      
agreem5t betwe5 ! applicant & !         
,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,e/abli%m5t ( broadb&  
build\t requirem5ts ,! ,secret>y %all   
e/abli% broadb& build\t requirem5ts t-- 
7i7 utilize ! same metrics us$ to def9e 
! m9imum acceptable level ( broadb&     
s]vice "u p>agraph 7#a72 &  7ii7        
reasonably ensure-- 7,i7 ! repaym5t (   
all loans2 &  7,,ii7 ! f9anc$ network is
 te*nically capable ( provid+ broadb&   
s]vice = ! lifetime ( any project-relat$
 agreem5t4  7,c7 ,sub/itute s]vice /&>ds

 = unique s]vice t]ritories  7i7 ,9     
g5]al ,if an applicant %[s t x w\ld be  
co/ prohibitive to meet ! broadb&       
build\t requirem5ts e/abli%$ "u ?is     
p>agraph = ! entirety ( a propos$ s]vice
 t]ritory due to ! unique *>act]i/ics ( 
! propos$ s]vice t]ritory1 ! ,secret>y &
 ! applicant may agree to utilize       
sub/itute /&>ds = any uns]v$ portion ( !
 project4  7ii7 ,requirem5t ,any        
sub/itute s]vice /&>ds describ$ 9 clause
 7i7 %\ld cont9ue to consid] ! be/      
te*nology available to meet ! ne$s ( !  
resid5ts 9 ! uns]v$ area4  2  7#b7 by   
r$esignat+ subsections 7g71 7h71 & 7i7 z
 subsections 7f71 7g71 & 7h71           
respectively2  7#c7 9 subsection 7f7 7z 
s r$esignat$7-- 7,a7 9 ! subsection     
head+1 by /rik+ ,loans & ,loan          
,gu>antees4-- & ins]t+ ,loans4--2 &     
7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#a7-- 7i7 9 ! matt]    
prec$+ subp>agraph 7,a71 by /rik+ or    
loan gu>antee2 &  7ii7 9 subp>agraph    
7,a7-- 7,i7 by /rik+ clause 7ii72       
7,,ii7 by /rik+ ,secret>y-- 9 ! matt]   

prec$+ clause 7i7 & all t foll[s ?r\gh 9
 ! case 9 ! matt] prec$+ subclause 7,i7 
( clause 7i7 & ins]t+ ,secret>y 9 !     
case2 &  7,,iii7 by r$esignat+          
subclauses 7,i7 & 7,,ii7 z clauses 7i7 &
 7ii71 respectively1 & ind5t+           
appropriately2  7#d7 9 subsection 7g7 7z
 s r$esignat$71 by /rik+ or loan        
gu>antee ea* place x appe>s2  7#e7 9    
subsection 7h7 7z s r$esignat$71 9      
p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ #aigd7 & ins]t+ 
#aigd 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ffa;a772 &  7#f7 by
 /rik+ subsections 7j7 & 7k7 & ins]t+ ! 
foll[+3  7i7 ,fund+  7#a7 ,au?orization 
( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be 
appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y to c>ry out  
subsections 7a7 ?r\gh 7h7 #fej1jjj1jjj =
 ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbf ?r\gh #bjcj1 to
 rema9 available until exp5d$4  7#b7    
,adm9i/ration ,n m ?an #e p]c5t ( !     
am\nts made available "u p>agraphs 7#a7 
& 7#c7 %all be available to ! ,secret>y 
= ! adm9i/ration ( subsections 7a7 ?r\gh
 7h74  7#c7 ,direct fund+  7,a7         
,rescission ,!re is resc9d$ ! unobligat$

 balance ( am\nts made available to c>ry
 out section #ggi ( division ,a ( !     
,consolidat$ ,appropriations ,act1 #bjah
 7,public ,law #aae-ada2 #acb ,/at4     
#cii74  7,b7 ,direct fund+ ,on ! day    
aft] ! execution ( ! rescission 9       
subp>agraph 7,a71 !re is appropriat$ to 
! ,secret>y1 out ( am\nts 9 ! ,treasury 
n o!rwise appropriat$1 an am\nt equal to
 ! am\nt resc9d$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 to 
c>ry out subsections 7a7 ?r\gh 7h71 to  
rema9 available until exp5d$4  7j7      
,additional rural broadb& program loans 
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may provide  
direct loans 9 accordance ) !           
requirem5ts "u ?is section1 z 9 effect  
on ! day be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( !     
,re,connecting ,rural ,am]ica ,act (    
#bjbe4  7#b7 ,au?orization (            
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y to c>ry out  
?is subsection #cej1jjj1jjj = ea* (     
fiscal ye>s #bjbf ?r\gh #bjcj1 to rema9 
available until exp5d$4  7k7 ,t]m9ation 
( au?ority ,no grant1 loan1 or grant &  

loan comb9ation may be made "u ?is      
section aft] ,septemb] #cj1 #bjcj4  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