# 119-s-98: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

119-s-98, Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV); status became_law; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-98
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-98
- Congress: 119
- Title: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2025-01-15
- Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vet applicants for high-cost universal service broadband funding.** The law makes applicants prove they have the technical, financial, and operational capacity and a reasonable business plan before receiving new high-cost awards.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2025-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New FCC checks and penalties for broadband applicants: cost, high. The law defines which high‑cost broadband grants are covered and when the new rules start. The FCC must start a rulemaking within 180 days to set a vetting process. Once the FCC publishes those rules, applicants must submit a detailed plan and proof of technical, financial, and operational capacity…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1289: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act
- 119-s-146: TAKE IT DOWN Act
- 119-s-522: Credit Union Board Modernization Act

## Sources
- [119-s-98 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/98)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1289: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1289)
- [119-s-146: TAKE IT DOWN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-146)
- [119-s-522: Credit Union Board Modernization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-522)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-98 (as of 2026-09-21).