Sec. 3. Rural broadband program loans and grants
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Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb ) is amended— in the section heading, by striking and inserting Access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas ; Reconnect rural broadband program by striking subsection
(a)and inserting the following: The Secretary shall establish a program, which shall be known as the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program , to provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to finance the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas. ; in subsection (c)(2), by striking subparagraphs
(A)and
(B)and inserting the following: In making grants, making loans, and guaranteeing loans under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give the highest priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service to unserved rural communities that do not have any residential broadband service of at least— a 10–Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and a 1–Mbps upstream transmission capacity. After giving priority to the applications described in clauses
(i)and
(ii)of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall then give priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service to rural communities— with a population of less than 10,000 inhabitants; or with a high percentage of low income families or persons (as defined in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949). In this subparagraph, the term port means— any port on the navigable waters of the United States, including territories; any harbor, marine terminal, or other shore side facility used principally for the movement of goods on inland waters; and any port formed in accordance with applicable State or territory law. In addition to the priority given under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall give equal priority to an application for a project that would increase the availability of broadband service in a port in a rural area. In making grants, making loans, and guaranteeing loans under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider whether an application was developed with the participation of community stakeholders, and will receive a substantial portion of the funding for the project from community stakeholders or other non-Federal sources. ; in subsection (c)(3)— in subparagraph (B)— by striking and at the end of clause (i); by striking the period at the end of clause
(ii)and inserting ; and ; and by adding at the end the following: shall be subject to a grant agreement of not less than ten years. ; in subparagraph (D)(i)— in subclause (I), by striking (2)(A)(i) and inserting (2)(A) ; and in subclause (II), by striking any of subclauses
(I)through
(IV)of paragraph (2)(B)(i) and inserting clause
(i)or
(ii)of paragraph (2)(B) ; and by striking subparagraph
(E)and inserting the following: The Secretary shall establish an application process that permits an application for a grant-only award. The Secretary shall establish an application process that permits— a single application for a grant and a loan under title I or II, or this title, that is associated with the grant; and provides a single decision to award the grant and the loan. ; in subsection (d)(2)— in subparagraph (A)— by striking subparagraphs
(B)and
(C)and inserting subparagraph
(B); by striking is submitted— and all that follows through
(i)not less and inserting is submitted not less ; and by striking (e); and and all that follows and inserting (e). ; in subparagraph (B), by striking Subparagraph (A)(i) and inserting Subparagraph
(A); and by striking subparagraph (C); in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (5); by striking subsection
(j)and inserting the following: There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $4,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029, to remain available for 5 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which appropriated. ; and in subsection (k), by striking 2023 and inserting 2029 . Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate rules to carry out the amendments made by subsection
(a)of this section, and complete the biennial review process required by section 601(e)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. The authorities provided by section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 ) shall have no force or effect after June 30, 2022. Not more than 1 percent of the unobligated balances of amounts made available as of June 1, 2021, to carry out the pilot program described in section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 ) may be used for the costs of transitioning from the pilot program to the program under section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended by this Act. The unobligated balances of all amounts made available on or before June 30, 2022, to carry out the pilot program described in section 779 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 ) that are in excess of the amount described in subparagraph
(B)of this paragraph are hereby transferred to and merged with amounts made available to carry out the program authorized under section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. The amount described in this subparagraph is the amount required to fully fund each project approved as of June 30, 2022, under the pilot program described in such section 779 for which amounts were not obligated or partially obligated as of such date.
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