LAST ACRE Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Deb Fischer
Introduced
Summary
This bill would establish a Last Acre Program to expand high‑speed broadband to the last acre of farms and boost precision agriculture connectivity. It would fund competitive grants and loans through the Department of Agriculture and require new farm broadband questions in USDA surveys to track speeds and uses.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal cost share for farm projects
If enacted, the federal government would pay up to 80% of an approved project's cost. If the covered producer is a limited resource farmer or rancher, the federal share could be increased to 90%. The project would require the non‑Federal share to cover the remainder.
Provider application and bid rules
If enacted, providers must include specific details when they apply, like how they will serve the whole acreage, cost shares, and proof the land is unserved. The Secretary would create a voluntary online portal for providers to register. The Secretary would post eligible land at least every 30 days and email registered providers within 24 hours. Providers would have 45 business days to challenge a posting and 120 days to file competing bids. The Secretary would pick the lowest-cost applicant that can meet needed speeds and may give priority to higher speeds when justified. The Secretary could not favor or disfavor applicants based on State law.
New Last Acre broadband program
If enacted, the Agriculture Department would set up the Last Acre Program within one year. The program would give competitive grants and loans to providers to build qualifying broadband to unserved and underserved farm land. Congress could appropriate "such sums as are necessary" for fiscal years 2025–2029. No more than 10% of annual program funds could go to ARS research centers. The bill would also repeal Sections 602 and 603 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
Buildout rules, penalties, and reporting
If enacted, projects that get program help would have to meet buildout milestones and be finished within four years after assistance is provided. The Secretary could impose penalties, fines, or sanctions for missed milestones. The program could not pay to serve a home already shown as serviceable on broadband maps or covered by an enforceable commitment, nor to expand service commercially outside eligible farm land. The Secretary would share program data with the FCC yearly and send Congress an annual report on bids and awards.
New farm broadband survey questions
If enacted, the Agriculture Department would add questions to its computer usage survey and the Census of Agriculture asking if a farm site subscribes to broadband. If a respondent subscribes, the surveys would collect download and upload speeds and how the internet is used, including precision agriculture.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Deb Fischer
NE • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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