S. 98 Senate Science, Technology, Communications
Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
BECAME LAW MAY 11, 2026
Became Law on May 11, 2026.
- Senate Introduced in Senate Jan 15, 2025
- Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Jan 15, 2025
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. Feb 5, 2025
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-14. Apr 28, 2025
- Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 48. Apr 28, 2025
- Senate Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. Jun 26, 2025
- Senate Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3570; text: CR S3570) Jun 26, 2025
- Senate Message on Senate action sent to the House. Jun 27, 2025
- House Received in the House. Jul 3, 2025
- House Held at the desk. Jul 3, 2025
- Senate Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2977) Apr 20, 2026
- House Mr. Allen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. Apr 20, 2026
- House Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2976-2978) Apr 20, 2026
- House DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 98. Apr 20, 2026
- Senate Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. Apr 20, 2026
- House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2977) Apr 20, 2026
- House Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Apr 20, 2026
- SenatePresented to President. Apr 30, 2026
- SenateSigned by President. May 11, 2026
- Senate Latest actionBecame Public Law No: 119-89. May 11, 2026
Cosponsors
4
Subjects
Internet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and developmentTelephone and wireless communication
Committees
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Reported By , Apr 28, 2025
- Markup By , Feb 5, 2025
- Referred To , Jan 15, 2025
Summary
Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025This act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vet the qualifications of applicants for certain funding programs that support affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas (e.g., rural communities).Specifically, the FCC must develop a vetting process for applicants seeking funding under high-cost universal service programs for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network. The FCC must require applicants to submit a proposal that contains sufficient detail and documentation for the FCC to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities related to the proposed deployment and has a reasonable business plan. The FCC must evaluate applications against reasonable and well-established standards and must consider each applicant’s history of compliance with the requirements of other government broadband funding programs.The FCC must establish this vetting process through a rulemaking proceeding. After the rule is finalized, funds may only be awarded to applicants that satisfy the standards established therein.Finally, the FCC must set financial penalties for applicants that default in some manner during the evaluation process before they are authorized to begin receiving support.
Summary as of: Public Law
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