Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

S98 ENR: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 U.S. Senate text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. One Hundred Nineteenth Congress of the United States of America 2d Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Saturday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty six S. 98

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025. 2. Vetting process for prospective high-cost universal service fund applicants Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following: (m) Vetting of high-Cost fund recipients (1) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term covered funding means any new offer of high-cost universal service program funding, including funding provided through a reverse competitive bidding mechanism provided under this section, for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network; and (B) the term new covered funding award means an award of covered funding that is made based on an application submitted to the Commission on or after the date on which rules are promulgated under paragraph (2). (2) Commission rulemaking Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a vetting process for applicants for, and other recipients of, a new covered funding award. (3) Contents (A) In general In promulgating rules under paragraph (2), the Commission shall provide that, consistent with principles of technology neutrality, the Commission will only award covered funding to applicants that can demonstrate that they meet the qualifications in subparagraph (B). (B) Qualifications described An applicant for a new covered funding award shall include in the initial application a proposal containing sufficient detail and documentation for the Commission to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities, and has a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver services with the relevant performance characteristics and requirements defined by the Commission and as pledged by the applicant. (C) Evaluation of proposal The Commission shall evaluate a proposal described in subparagraph (B) against— (i) reasonable and well-established technical, financial, and operational standards, including the technical standards adopted by the Commission in orders of the Commission relating to Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection (WC Docket No. 19–195) (or orders of the Commission relating to modernizing any successor collection) for purposes of entities that must report broadband availability coverage; and (ii) the applicant’s history of complying with requirements in Commission and other government broadband deployment funding programs. (D) Penalties for pre-authorization defaults In adopting rules for any new covered funding award, the Commission shall set a penalty for pre-authorization defaults of at least $9,000 per violation and may not limit the base forfeiture to an amount less than 30 percent of the applicant’s total support, unless the Commission demonstrates the need for lower penalties in a particular instance. . Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

119 S98 ES: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 U.S. Senate text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. 119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 98IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAN ACTTo require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025.2.Vetting process for prospective high-cost universal service fund applicantsSection 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:(m)Vetting of high-Cost fund recipients(1)DefinitionsIn this subsection—(A)the term covered funding means any new offer of high-cost universal service program funding, including funding provided through a reverse competitive bidding mechanism provided under this section, for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network; and(B)the term new covered funding award means an award of covered funding that is made based on an application submitted to the Commission on or after the date on which rules are promulgated under paragraph (2).(2)Commission rulemakingNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a vetting process for applicants for, and other recipients of, a new covered funding award.(3)Contents(A)In generalIn promulgating rules under paragraph (2), the Commission shall provide that, consistent with principles of technology neutrality, the Commission will only award covered funding to applicants that can demonstrate that they meet the qualifications in subparagraph (B).(B)Qualifications describedAn applicant for a new covered funding award shall include in the initial application a proposal containing sufficient detail and documentation for the Commission to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities, and has a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver services with the relevant performance characteristics and requirements defined by the Commission and as pledged by the applicant.(C)Evaluation of proposalThe Commission shall evaluate a proposal described in subparagraph (B) against— (i)reasonable and well-established technical, financial, and operational standards, including the technical standards adopted by the Commission in orders of the Commission relating to Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection (WC Docket No. 19–195) (or orders of the Commission relating to modernizing any successor collection) for purposes of entities that must report broadband availability coverage; and(ii)the applicant’s history of complying with requirements in Commission and other government broadband deployment funding programs.(D)Penalties for pre-authorization defaultsIn adopting rules for any new covered funding award, the Commission shall set a penalty for pre-authorization defaults of at least $9,000 per violation and may not limit the base forfeiture to an amount less than 30 percent of the applicant’s total support, unless the Commission demonstrates the need for lower penalties in a particular instance..Passed the Senate June 26 (legislative day, June 24), 2025.Secretary

119 S98 IS: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-01-15 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 98IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJanuary 15, 2025Mrs. Capito (for herself, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationA BILLTo require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025.2.Vetting process for prospective high-cost universal service fund applicantsSection 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:(m)Vetting of high-Cost fund recipients(1)DefinitionsIn this subsection—(A)the term covered funding means any new offer of high-cost universal service program funding, including funding provided through a reverse competitive bidding mechanism provided under this section, for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network; and(B)the term new covered funding award means an award of covered funding that is made based on an application submitted to the Commission on or after the date on which rules are promulgated under paragraph (2).(2)Commission rulemakingNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a vetting process for applicants for, and other recipients of, a new covered funding award.(3)Contents(A)In generalIn promulgating rules under paragraph (2), the Commission shall provide that, consistent with principles of technology neutrality, the Commission will only award covered funding to applicants that can demonstrate that they meet the qualifications in subparagraph (B).(B)Qualifications describedAn applicant for a new covered funding award shall include in the initial application a proposal containing sufficient detail and documentation for the Commission to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities, and has a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver services with the relevant performance characteristics and requirements defined by the Commission and as pledged by the applicant.(C)Evaluation of proposalThe Commission shall evaluate a proposal described in subparagraph (B) against— (i)reasonable and well-established technical, financial, and operational standards, including the technical standards adopted by the Commission in orders of the Commission relating to Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection (WC Docket No. 19–195) (or orders of the Commission relating to modernizing any successor collection) for purposes of entities that must report broadband availability coverage; and(ii)the applicant’s history of complying with requirements in Commission and other government broadband deployment funding programs.(D)Penalties for pre-authorization defaultsIn adopting rules for any new covered funding award, the Commission shall set a penalty for pre-authorization defaults of at least $9,000 per violation and may not limit the base forfeiture to an amount less than 30 percent of the applicant’s total support, unless the Commission demonstrates the need for lower penalties in a particular instance..

119 S98 RS: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-04-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IICalendar No. 48119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 98[Report No. 119–14]IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJanuary 15, 2025Mrs. Capito (for herself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationApril 28, 2025Reported by Mr. Cruz, without amendmentA BILLTo require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025.2.Vetting process for prospective high-cost universal service fund applicantsSection 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:(m)Vetting of high-Cost fund recipients(1)DefinitionsIn this subsection—(A)the term covered funding means any new offer of high-cost universal service program funding, including funding provided through a reverse competitive bidding mechanism provided under this section, for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network; and(B)the term new covered funding award means an award of covered funding that is made based on an application submitted to the Commission on or after the date on which rules are promulgated under paragraph (2).(2)Commission rulemakingNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a vetting process for applicants for, and other recipients of, a new covered funding award.(3)Contents(A)In generalIn promulgating rules under paragraph (2), the Commission shall provide that, consistent with principles of technology neutrality, the Commission will only award covered funding to applicants that can demonstrate that they meet the qualifications in subparagraph (B).(B)Qualifications describedAn applicant for a new covered funding award shall include in the initial application a proposal containing sufficient detail and documentation for the Commission to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities, and has a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver services with the relevant performance characteristics and requirements defined by the Commission and as pledged by the applicant.(C)Evaluation of proposalThe Commission shall evaluate a proposal described in subparagraph (B) against— (i)reasonable and well-established technical, financial, and operational standards, including the technical standards adopted by the Commission in orders of the Commission relating to Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection (WC Docket No. 19–195) (or orders of the Commission relating to modernizing any successor collection) for purposes of entities that must report broadband availability coverage; and(ii)the applicant’s history of complying with requirements in Commission and other government broadband deployment funding programs.(D)Penalties for pre-authorization defaultsIn adopting rules for any new covered funding award, the Commission shall set a penalty for pre-authorization defaults of at least $9,000 per violation and may not limit the base forfeiture to an amount less than 30 percent of the applicant’s total support, unless the Commission demonstrates the need for lower penalties in a particular instance..April 28, 2025Reported without amendment