Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act (Farm Bill), which would authorize $650 million for the ReConnect rural broadband grant and loan program for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029. The Farm Bill would authorize $350 million for direct loans for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2029. The speed requirements for ReConnect projects would be 100 megabits per second symmetrical in areas where at least 75 percent of the households lack access to broadband service of at least 100 Mbps/20 Mbps.
The Farm Bill would also expand authorization of funding for middle-mile infrastructure, the Innovative Broadband Advancement Program, the Community Connect Grant Program, and guarantees for bonds and notes issued for telecommunication purposes through fiscal year 2029. Additionally, the Farm Bill would increase the authorization of appropriations to $15 million for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029 for rural development loans and grants and extend the authorization of appropriations for expanding 911 access through fiscal year 2029.
