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119-hr-8147119th CongressWALLET

Prioritizing Rural Broadband Affordability Act

Sponsored By: Representative McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

Introduced

Summary

Broadband affordability would become a formal factor when deciding which rural households and service areas count as "unserved" under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. If enacted, the bill would require the USDA Secretary to consider whether service is affordable in both household and service-territory unserved determinations, with those changes taking effect one year after enactment.

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  • Rural families: Households that face high monthly internet bills would be more likely to be classified as unserved, which can make them targets for programs and projects aimed at unserved areas.
  • Internet providers: Providers could see shifts in which areas are labeled unserved, potentially changing where federal support and infrastructure efforts are focused.
  • Federal administration: The bill would add "affordability" as a defined criterion in 7 U.S.C. 950bb, changing how USDA officials assess service territories under existing rural broadband authorities.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Make broadband affordability count for rural areas

If enacted, this bill would require the Secretary to consider whether broadband service is affordable when deciding if a household or area is "unserved". This would apply both to individual households and to proposed service territories under the Rural Electrification Act. The change would take effect one year after enactment. The bill does not provide new funding or create new programs; it only adds affordability as a criterion for unserved determinations.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2026

  • Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/2/2026

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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