Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§19174 Nist Engagement with Rural Communities
Title 42 › CHAPTER 163 — RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, COMPETITION, AND INNOVATION › SUBCHAPTER V — BROADENING PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE › Part B — Rural STEM Education Research › § 19174
Summary
Commerce must run a prize contest to fund technologies for affordable, reliable broadband in rural communities, including unserved areas. Proposals must include a deployment plan. Prizes are capped at $5,000,000. The Secretary must report the winner to Congress within 60 days and consult the FCC and other federal agencies.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §19174
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Prize competition
Pursuant to section 3719 of title 15, the Secretary of Commerce shall carry out a program to award prizes competitively to stimulate research and development of creative technologies to support the deployment of affordable and reliable broadband connectivity in rural communities, including unserved rural communities.
(b)Plan for deployment in rural communities
Each proposal submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include a proposed plan for deployment of the technology that is the subject of such proposal.
(c)Prize amount
In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary may award not more than a total of $5,000,000 to one or more winners of the prize competition.
(d)Report
Not later than 60 days after the date on which a prize is awarded under the prize competition, the Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that describes the winning proposal of the prize competition.
(e)Consultation
In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Federal Communications Commission and the heads of relevant departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 19174
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110