HR 3216 118th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Government information and archives Infrastructure development Internet, web applications, social media Public utilities and utility rates Rural conditions and development

Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023

Introduced: May 11, 2023 Introduced by: Cammack, Kat Republican · Florida See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 1, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

May 12, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

May 11, 2023

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.

May 11, 2023

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023

This bill merges the pilot ReConnect Loan and Grant Program with existing loans and grants provided by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate broadband access to rural areas that lack sufficient access to broadband. Unobligated amounts available for the pilot program must be transferred and made available, without further appropriations, to this merged program.

The bill specifies eligibility criteria and other requirements that apply to the merged program. For example, the bill limits funds from the merged program to projects in areas where at least 90% of the households lack sufficient access to broadband services, which is currently required under the pilot program.

Other changes in the bill address procedures for contesting the accuracy of broadband maps that are used to identify eligible areas. It also requires efforts to increase coordination concerning broadband initiatives between USDA, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Telecommunications Information Administration.

What's happening now June 1, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Committees of jurisdiction 4