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HR 6336 114th Congress House Agriculture and Food

B-CROP Act of 2016

Introduced: November 17, 2016 Introduced by: Pocan, Mark Democratic · Wisconsin See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 9, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Nov 17, 2016
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 17, 2016
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act of 2016 or the B-CROP Act of 2016

This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loans and loan guarantees for broadband telecommunications services in rural areas.

In making grants, loans, or loan guarantees under the program, USDA must give the highest priority to applicants that offer to provide broadband service to the greatest proportion of unserved rural households or rural households that do not have the minimum acceptable level of residential broadband service.

USDA must then give priority to projects to serve rural communities that:

  • have a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents,
  • are experiencing out-migration,
  • have a high percentage of low-income residents, and
  • are isolated from other significant population centers.

A grant may not exceed 50% of the development cost of the project. USDA may increase the limit to 75% for projects that serve a remote or low-income area that does not have access to broadband service from any provider.

The bill sets forth reporting requirements for recipients of the grants, loans, or loan guarantees.

What's happening now December 9, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1