HR 1838 119th Congress
Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to improve access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, including by encouraging the provision of broadband loans and grants to increase broadband service in rural ports, and for other purposes.
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Bill journey
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Introduction Congress.gov
Introduced
Introduced in the House.
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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.
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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.
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Introduced in House
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Introduced in House
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Introduced in House
A dated text-version record is available.
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Official action Congress.gov
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
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| Date and time | Record | Official detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IntroductionIntroduced | Introduced in the House. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionReferred 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. | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · House floor actions · Code H11100 | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionReferred 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. | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · House floor actions · Code H11100 | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionIntroduced in House | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · Library of Congress · Code Intro-H | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionIntroduced in House | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · Library of Congress · Code 1000 | Congress.gov | |
| Text versionIntroduced in House | A dated text-version record is available. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionReferred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · House committee actions · Code H11000 | Congress.gov |
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Congressional Research Service
CRS summary
Broadband Internet for Small Ports ActThis bill establishes priority for broadband projects near rural maritime ports under the Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural broadband grant and loan program, and makes other specified changes to the program’s structure and available support. Under current law, the rural broadband program provides grants, loans, and loan guarantees for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of broadband facilities and equipment in rural areas. The bill adjusts the level of priority given to certain categories of projects, including through the establishment of a new priority for projects that would increase broadband service in ports and shore-side facilities in rural areas. The bill also makes changes to the program’s parameters, including by changing available grant amounts and increasing the percentage of households in a community that must be unserved or underserved with broadband in order for projects in the community to qualify for loans or loan guarantees. Further, as a condition of receiving support, recipients must share with USDA geolocation information on new or upgraded broadband service established under the program. For proposed projects given high priority, the bill requires USDA to confirm that the relevant communities are currently unserved by conferring with relevant federal agencies and other broadband service data sources, and by performing site-specific testing to verify the unavailability of residential broadband service. Finally, the bill requires USDA to provide feedback and decisions to applicants in a timely manner, and to use certain program funds for oversight and accountability measures.
Official documents
Text versions
- Introduced in HouseMar 4, 2025