Legislation1w ago
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To authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to operate one-stop reentry centers.
HR8548Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA)
introduced
HR4032119th CongressWALLET
Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Feenstra
Introduced
Summary
Expand who pays into the Universal Service Fund by making broadband and edge providers contribute. The bill would also require the FCC to create a new high-cost subsidy to help eligible carriers cover broadband costs not recovered from end-user rates.
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- Households and consumers: Would aim to lower consumer broadband prices by broadening the USF contribution base so some funding does not come only from end-user rates.
- Edge and broadband providers: Would require contributions from broadband providers and defined "edge providers" such as streaming services, search engines, social platforms, app stores, cloud services, and e-commerce platforms on an equitable, nondiscriminatory basis, with exemptions for providers that transmit under 3% of U.S. broadband data or earn under $5 billion in U.S. revenue or whose contribution would be de minimis.
- Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs): Would direct the FCC to adopt, within 18 months, a new high-cost program mechanism to provide predictable support for an ETC's broadband expenses not recovered from customers or other USF support. The FCC must ensure no more than one ETC per area receives that support.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More providers pay into internet fund
If enacted, the FCC would have 18 months to set rules so broadband and edge providers pay into the Universal Service Fund on a fair basis. Some edge providers would be exempt if they sent under 3% of U.S. broadband data and made under $5,000,000,000 in U.S. revenue last year. The FCC could also excuse de minimis payments and update the rules over time.
New support for high-cost broadband areas
If enacted, within 18 months the FCC would create a new high-cost support mechanism. It would pay eligible carriers for costs not covered by customer rates or other universal service support. Only one eligible carrier per area could get this support.
FCC definitions, enforcement, and limits
If enacted, the bill would define key terms like broadband provider, edge provider, and eligible telecommunications carrier. The FCC would enforce the Act using its existing Communications Act tools and penalties. It would not give the FCC extra powers beyond what this Act says.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Feenstra
IA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Mann
KS • R
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rogers (KY)
KY • R
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie Ann [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Cole
OK • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Johnson (SD)
SD • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Lucas
OK • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
NE • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Finstad
MN • R
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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