Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored byRep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]IN· Introduced 27 March 2025

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

29 April 2025·1 year ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 7 April 2025

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.

Timeline

15 actions

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.
29 April 2025 · Calendars
Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
28 April 2025 · Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2399.
28 April 2025 · Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1662-1663)
28 April 2025 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1662-1663)
28 April 2025 · Floor
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1662-1663)
28 April 2025 · Floor
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
28 April 2025 · Floor
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 55.
24 April 2025 · Calendars
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-78.
24 April 2025 · Committee
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-78.
24 April 2025 · Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
8 April 2025 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 1.
8 April 2025 · Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
27 March 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
27 March 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
27 March 2025 · IntroReferral