Senators Push USDA to Expand Rural Broadband Access

Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators to urge the Trump administration to expand access to rural broadband by changing a requirement that prevents providers in rural communities across 19 states from even applying to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect program, which funds rural broadband deployment. Since 2018, USDA has been authorized to make grants and loans of about $600 million per year to foster rural broadband through its ReConnect program. Currently, however, service providers in areas that received Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Connect America Fund Phase II grants are ineligible for USDA ReConnect grants and 50/50 loan-grant combinations, even if only a satellite provider received funding for that area. The legislation that authorized the ReConnect program does not mandate such an exclusion. In a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, the senators urge him to use his authority to broaden ReConnect eligibility. USDA considers satellite coverage insufficient for the needs of rural communities. Satellite service has much lower bandwidth caps, reliability and network speeds than fiber and fixed wireless services. This makes satellite service ill-suited for the telemedicine, mental health services and interactive distance learning applications that help rural communities thrive.

Joining Sen Wyden on this letter are Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Angus King (I-Maine).