House Passes FY 2022 Appropriations Bills, Includes Broadband Funding

The House passed HR 4502, a package of seven fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills, including the 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill. The bill, among other things, provides $907 million for the expansion of broadband service, including $800 million for the ReConnect program. The appropriations package also includes the 2022 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, which provides $388 million for the Federal Communications Commission, an increase of $14 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, to support efforts to expand broadband access, improve the security of US telecommunications networks, and administer billions in COVID-19 relief programs. The House also increased FCC funding by $1 million for broadband mapping.