Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4385
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T20:26:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, titled the Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2026, amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to reauthorize and update the Community Connect Grant Program. The program provides grants to expand broadband (high-speed internet) infrastructure in rural areas lacking adequate service.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for grants:
- Funds projects in unserved rural areas (no broadband at minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload).
- Also covers underserved rural areas (broadband below 25 Mbps download / 3 Mbps upload).
- Broadband mapping and commitments: Eligible areas include those with planned broadband service under enforceable promises from other federal funding programs.
- Reauthorization: Extends the program through fiscal year 2031 (previously through 2023).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Raises minimum broadband speed standards:
| Area Type | Old Standards | New Standards | |---------------|------------------------|------------------------| | Unserved | Less than 10/1 Mbps | Less than 100/20 Mbps | | Underserved | Below 10/1 Mbps | Below 25/3 Mbps |
- Specifies that grants target rural areas explicitly.
- Broadens eligibility by considering future broadband deployments from other programs, preventing overlap with existing funding.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), via its Rural Utilities Service, will administer updated grants, potentially increasing demand for rural broadband projects.
- Citizens: Improves high-speed internet access for rural residents, enabling better remote work, education, telehealth, and economic opportunities.
- No notable international relations impacts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural communities and residents: Primary beneficiaries through expanded broadband access.
- Broadband providers and utilities: Eligible to apply for grants to build infrastructure.
- USDA and federal agencies: Responsible for program oversight, funding allocation, and coordination with other broadband initiatives.
- Local governments: May partner on projects to serve unserved/underserved areas.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with existing federal authority under the Rural Electrification Act; no new powers granted. Clarifies grant rules to reduce duplication across programs.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; supports equal access to infrastructure in line with general welfare clause.
- Political: Advances rural development priorities by modernizing speed benchmarks to reflect current technology needs, potentially bridging urban-rural digital divides.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-04-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (3 pages)