Ciscomani, Pettersen Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Expand Rural Broadband Access

TUCSON, AZ – U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07) this week introduced the Connecting Our Neighbors to Networks and Ensuring Competitive Telecommunications (CONNECT) Act, legislation aimed at expanding rural broadband access. This bill reforms the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect Loan and Grant Program to make it easier for small providers, local governments, nonprofits and cooperatives to apply to this program and to shorten required permitting deadlines, expediting funding for projects in rural communities. You can find full bill text here.

“In today’s age, internet access drives almost every aspect of life, from economic growth to educational opportunities,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “Yet too many rural areas in Arizona lack access to strong, reliable broadband, which stunts the growth and prosperity of these communities. I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Pettersen and Senators Bennet and Budd in this bipartisan effort to close the digital divide.”

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is essential for the success of our students, businesses, and communities—but too many Coloradans, especially in rural areas, are without broadband,” said Rep. Pettersen. “Much of my district encompasses rural mountain towns, many that don’t have consistent access to internet, so I’m proud to introduce this bill alongside Congressman Ciscomani and Senators Bennet and Budd to improve and strengthen the USDA’s ReConnect program. It’s the next step as we close the digital divide and level the playing field for all Americans.”

Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“Broadband is the essential infrastructure of the 21st century, but rural communities across Colorado and the country are being left behind,” said Sen. Bennet. “It’s time Washington made federal programs easier to access for small providers–who are most attuned to the needs of their customers–and strengthened support for local governments, nonprofit organizations, and cooperatives seeking to provide internet service to rural residents.”

“The USDA’s ReConnect Program has already helped bridge the digital divide in North Carolina, but the application process remains complicated and expensive,” said Sen.Budd. “This makes it harder for small rural providers to get projects approved. I’m proud to partner with Senator Bennet on bipartisan legislation that will make it easier for more Americans to get access to affordable, high-quality internet.”

While the ReConnect Loan and Grant program provides broadband funding for eligible rural areas, the application process can be complicated and prohibitively expensive for small providers. Specifically, the CONNECT Act would:

• Establish an Office of Technical Assistance to aid eligible providers with application forms;
• Create a Mini-Grant Program offering grants up to $20,000 for small providers;
• Prioritize applications from local governments, nonprofit organizations, or cooperatives;
• Designate rural areas that receive broadband service via non-wireline technology as eligible for ReConnect funding;
• Shorten certain permitting deadlines for USDA-funded broadband projects from 270 to 180 days;
• Create an interagency Broadband Council to recommend uniform speed and application requirements for federal programs; and
• Expand federal easements for certain electric utilities to enable them to lease existing fiber capacity. 

Rep. Ciscomani also joined a bipartisan letter this week to congressional leadership to call for an extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in the upcoming government appropriations bill. The ACP provides millions of families with financial assistance for broadband services, providing eligible households with up to $30 per month towards their internet bills. Nearly 40% of eligible Americans rely on ACP for internet access yet current federal investment for ACP is expected to be depleted by 2024.