New Deal Rural Broadband Act of 2017
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Feb 1, 2017)
New Deal Rural Broadband Act of 2017
This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a rural broadband office within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and authorize new grants and loans for developing broadband in rural, underserved, and tribal areas.
The bill establishes the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives and the position of Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives to:
- administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs currently administered by the Rural Utilities Service,
- conduct specified outreach and coordination activities, and
- conduct and release to the public an inventory of federal and state property on which a broadband facility could be constructed.
The bill establishes the Breaking Ground on Rural Broadband Program and the Tribal Broadband Assistance Program to provide grants, loans, or loan guarantees for the development of broadband in rural, underserved, and tribal areas.
The bill modifies existing programs to authorize USDA to: (1) provide grants, in addition to loans and loan guarantees permitted under current law, for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas; and (2) give priority to multijurisdictional projects for the development of broadband or telecommunications services through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area.
The bill authorizes federal land management agencies to retain and use certain rental fees for communications activities on federal lands. The agencies may use the fees for specified activities related to administering and managing communications sites.
What just happenedFeb 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseFeb 1, 2017
- Feb 24, 2017Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee - Feb 15, 2017Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Federal Lands Subcommittee - Feb 15, 2017Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee - Feb 3, 2017Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Communications and Technology Subcommittee - Feb 1, 2017IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
Energy and Commerce Committee - Feb 1, 2017IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
Natural Resources Committee - Feb 1, 2017IntroReferralH11100-A
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
- Feb 1, 2017IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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.
Agriculture Committee - Feb 1, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Feb 1, 2017IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House