Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8147
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-27: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T22:06:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act (H.R. 8147)
Purpose
This bill aims to ensure that the affordability of broadband internet service is factored into decisions about awarding grants for rural broadband programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It seeks to prioritize rural areas where broadband exists but is too expensive for residents.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: "Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act."
- Amends Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (a law that funds rural infrastructure like electricity and broadband):
- Adds a requirement for the USDA Secretary to consider broadband affordability when deciding if a household is "unserved" (lacking adequate service) for grant eligibility.
- Replaces an existing rule to require the same affordability check when deciding if a proposed service area is "unserved."
- Effective Date: Changes take effect 1 year after the bill is signed into law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, "unserved" focused mainly on lack of access or speed; now explicitly includes cost as a factor.
- Targets two specific subsections:
- Subsection (c)(2): Household-level determinations.
- Subsection (d)(2): Service territory-level determinations.
- This expands the definition of need beyond just availability or quality.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: USDA must update grant evaluation processes, potentially increasing administrative work to assess service prices but broadening grant reach.
- Citizens: Rural households with unaffordable broadband (even if available) may qualify for subsidized improvements, improving access to internet for work, education, and healthcare.
- No notable international relations impacts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural residents: Primary beneficiaries through potentially lower-cost broadband.
- Broadband providers: Must compete for grants based on affordability; may need to offer cheaper plans in targeted areas.
- USDA: Responsible for implementing affordability checks in grant programs like ReConnect.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Straightforward amendment to an existing federal law; no new funding authorized, so relies on current appropriations.
- Constitutional: None apparent; aligns with Congress's spending power for rural development.
- Political: Could appeal to rural constituencies by addressing "access gaps" caused by high prices, without major controversy. Referred to House Committees on Agriculture and Energy and Commerce for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-27: 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.
- 2026-03-27: 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.
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act — issued 2026-03-27 — PDF (2 pages)