Congressional Research Service R46780
Overview of the Universal Service Fund and Selected Federal Broadband Programs
Source-supplied metadata for version 8, published Jun 25, 2021.
Source-supplied fields
Report metadata
- Identifier
- R46780
- Version
- 8
- Product type
- Reports
- Status
- Archived
- Published
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source updated
- May 1, 2026, 12:09 pm UTC
Authors: Colby Leigh Rachfal, Elayne J. Heisler, Maggie McCarty, Jill C. Gallagher, Brian E. Humphreys, Patricia Moloney Figliola
Source topics: Health Care Delivery, Telecommunications & Internet Policy
Politically.com intentionally does not reproduce the report summary or full text. Use the official Congress.gov links above to read the product in its source context.
Structured Congress.gov references
Related federal bills
- S 326A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and analysis of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the economy of the United States, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 279A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to update the national broadband plan, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 198A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps.117th Congress
- S 163A bill to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.117th Congress
- S 113A bill to require providers of broadband internet access service and edge services to clearly and conspicuously notify users of the privacy policies of those providers, to give users opt-in or opt-out approval rights with respect to the use of, disclosure of, and access to user information collected by those providers based on the level of sensitivity of the information, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 210To coordinate Federal research and development efforts focused on STEM education and workforce development in rural areas, including the development and application of new technologies to support and improve rural STEM education, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 205To accelerate rural broadband deployment.117th Congress
- HR 1848To rebuild and modernize the Nation's infrastructure to expand access to broadband and Next Generation 9-1-1, rehabilitate drinking water infrastructure, modernize the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, redevelop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, create jobs, and protect public health and the environment, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 3703To facilitate the installation of broadband infrastructure, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 3654To expand access to electromagnetic spectrum for the provision of broadband service in rural areas, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 1908A bill 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.117th Congress
- S 1884A bill to ensure that fixed broadband internet access service assisted by any Federal broadband support program meets a minimum level of service.117th Congress
- HR 3435To establish a broadband expansion grant program, to streamline the permitting process for fixed and mobile broadband services, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 3376To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to promote broadband deployment by increasing participation in broadband support programs.117th Congress
- HR 3370Broadband Permitting Modernization Act117th Congress
- HR 3369To codify the ReConnect Program, to expand rural broadband assistance, and to improve the administration and accountability of the broadband programs at the Department of Agriculture.117th Congress
- HR 3346To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from regulating the rates charged for broadband internet access service.117th Congress
- S 1695A bill to amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to provide for a high-speed broadband deployment initiative.117th Congress
- S 1676A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow tax-exempt private activity bonds to be used for qualified broadband projects, to provide for tax credit payments to issuers of tax-exempt bonds used to finance broadband infrastructure projects, and to provide an investment credit for qualified broadband projects.117th Congress
- HR 3193E-BRIDGE Act117th Congress
- S 1365A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a new Tribal priority window for the 2.5 gigahertz band, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 1460A bill to amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to preserve and protect the ability of State and local governments, public-private partnerships, and cooperatives to provide broadband services.117th Congress
- HR 2667To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit providers of broadband internet access service from charging consumers above certain amounts for certain equipment.117th Congress
- HR 2411To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to consumers to reimburse a portion of the cost of broadband infrastructure serving limited broadband districts.117th Congress
- HR 2666To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit providers of broadband internet access service from increasing rates or enforcing data caps or allowances during an emergency or major disaster, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 2665To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program to make grants to States for the deployment of broadband service in underserved areas by small business broadband providers, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 1113A bill to require Federal agencies to timely respond to right-of-way requests for the build out of broadband service, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 2400To allow Rural Utilities Service telecommunications grants to be made for the collection of broadband infrastructure data by local governments, economic development or other community organizations, electric or telephone cooperatives, and small internet providers.117th Congress
- HR 2398To improve the Federal Communication Commission's collection of broadband speed data in order to support the effective deployment of broadband services to all areas in the United States, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 1036A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations that establish a national standard for determining whether mobile and broadband services available in rural areas are reasonably comparable to those services provided in urban areas.117th Congress
- S 922A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding to States for extending broadband service to unserved areas in partnership with broadband service providers, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 979A bill to amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal Entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 944A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a program to expand access to broadband in unserved and underserved areas, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 2183To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding to States for extending broadband service to unserved areas in partnership with broadband service providers, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1904To include broadband as a utility that tenants residing in federally assisted housing can have subsidized by the Federal Government, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 745A bill to make high-speed broadband internet service accessible and affordable to all Americans, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1783To make high-speed broadband internet service accessible and affordable to all Americans, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 741A bill to establish a broadband infrastructure finance and innovation program to make available loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit for the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 696A bill to amend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to allow counties to use certain funds to provide or expand access to broadband telecommunications services and other technologies.117th Congress
- HR 1721To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal Entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1714Speedy Updates Act of 2021117th Congress
- HR 1700To establish a broadband infrastructure finance and innovation program to make available loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit for the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1672To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for the establishment of a program to expand access to broadband service, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1650To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with services offered by edge providers, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1631To amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to preserve and protect the ability of State and local governments, public-private partnerships, and cooperatives to provide broadband services.117th Congress
- S 608A bill to help small business broadband providers keep customers connected.117th Congress
- HR 1555To require the Federal Communications Commission to issue final rules to promote and incentivize the widespread adoption of broadband consumer labels, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1362To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit against tax for the purchase of communications signal boosters in areas with inadequate broadband internet access service, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- S 436A bill to provide Federal matching funding for State-level broadband programs.117th Congress
- HR 1218Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act117th Congress
- HR 1149To prohibit a State or political subdivision thereof from providing or offering for sale to the public retail or wholesale broadband internet access service, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1084To provide that a project for the deployment or modification of a communications facility entirely within a brownfield site is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.117th Congress
- HR 1069To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that the Federal Communications Commission is not required to perform any review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, as a condition of permitting the placement and installation of a communications facility, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1056To provide that a project for the collocation of a personal wireless service facility is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.117th Congress
- HR 1055To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit a plan to Congress to track requests for communications use authorization on Federal land.117th Congress
- HR 1053To provide that a project to remove and replace communications equipment or services listed under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.117th Congress
- HR 1051To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to streamline siting processes for telecommunications service facilities, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1047To allow certain State and Tribal permitting authority to encourage expansion of broadband service to rural and Tribal communities, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1043To provide that an eligible facilities request under section 6409(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.117th Congress
- HR 1046To require the Federal Communications Commission to provide broadband availability data to the Department of the Interior.117th Congress
- HR 1045To amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to amend the definition of eligible facilities request, to codify the 60-day time frame for certain eligible facilities requests and certain eligible telecommunications facilities requests, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1044To create a task force at the Federal Communications Commission to ensure the policy and funding decisions of the Commission are informed by data collection and analysis required in title VIII of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.117th Congress
- HR 1039To provide that a project for the deployment or modification of a communications facility entirely within a floodplain is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.117th Congress
- HR 1038To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a plan to ensure adequate staffing throughout organizational units of the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to review communications use authorizations in a timely manner.117th Congress
- HR 1032To address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.117th Congress
- HR 870To require the Federal Communications Commission to update the national broadband plan, and for other purposes.117th Congress