Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

Erin Houchin

Republican · IN · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Robin L. Kelly (D-IL-2)Original· 2025-03-27

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.

2025-04-29

Source: Congress.gov

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a process to vet applicants for certain funding programs that support affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas, including rural communities. Specifically, the FCC must conduct a rulemaking to develop a vetting process for applicants seeking funding under high-cost universal service programs for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network. The FCC must require applications for such funding to document each applicant’s technical, financial, and operational capabilities related to the proposed deployment, as well as a reasonable business plan. The FCC must evaluate applications against reasonable and well-established standards and must consider each applicant’s history of compliance with the requirements of other government broadband funding programs. After the rulemaking is finalized, funds may only be awarded to applicants that satisfy the standards established therein. Finally, the FCC must set financial penalties for applicants that default in some manner during the evaluation process before they are authorized to begin receiving support.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

• HR9191National Fossil Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-15
• HR7890Science of Reading Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-29
• HR2555Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-25
• HR9469Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) for Students Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-25