Rural Broadband Bill Mandates 100/100 Mbps Speeds and Affordability Programs for Federal Funding

If you live or work in a rural area, you know the pain of slow, unreliable internet. It’s not just annoying; it’s a competitive disadvantage. The ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 is the policy equivalent of demanding fiber optic speeds for everyone, not just those in the city.

This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act to create a new framework for distributing federal money—grants, loans, or both—to build out broadband infrastructure in areas that need it most. The headline requirement is a serious upgrade: any project funded must deliver service with a minimum of 100 Mbps downstream and 100 Mbps upstream capacity. That’s fast enough for a family to stream 4K video, video conference for work, and upload massive files simultaneously. The bill authorizes $650 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to make this happen, plus an additional $350 million per year for direct loans.

The Need for Speed: Targeting the Truly Unserved

One of the biggest issues with past broadband funding has been money going to areas that already have some service, even if it’s slow. This bill tries to fix that with strict eligibility rules. To qualify for funding, the proposed service territory must have at least 75 percent of households lacking service that provides even 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up. This targets the funding squarely at the most underserved communities.

Even better, the Secretary must give priority to applications serving territories where 90 percent of households are stuck below that 100/20 threshold. Think of it like this: if you’re a small business owner in a remote area who can barely run a credit card machine, let alone cloud software, this bill puts your community first in line for an upgrade. The bill also prioritizes projects serving areas with population loss, a high percentage of low-income families, or territories isolated from major population centers.

The Affordability Mandate

It’s not enough to build the pipes; people have to be able to afford the service. The bill mandates that any entity receiving this federal assistance must agree to participate in the Lifeline program (or any successor federal internet affordability program). This is a crucial detail, ensuring that the new high-speed networks aren't just for those who can afford the full price tag. It links infrastructure investment directly to consumer affordability, which is a big win for budget-conscious families.

Who Gets the Money and Who Doesn’t

The legislation is designed to empower smaller, local providers and community-based entities. Eligible entities include local governments, Indian Tribes, cooperatives, and small corporations. However, there are guardrails to prevent a few giant players from dominating the funding pool. Any entity providing service to 20 percent or more of U.S. households cannot receive more than 15 percent of the total funds authorized for the year. This same 15 percent cap applies to any single state or its agencies. This means the money is spread out, giving smaller, regional providers a real shot.

There are also strict rules against funding duplication. If another entity—whether through the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, the NTIA, the FCC, or a state program—has already received money to serve an area, this bill’s funds cannot be used there, unless the existing service is still too slow (failing to meet the 100/20 Mbps standard for 75% of households). This prevents taxpayer money from being spent twice to achieve the same goal, a common frustration in previous funding rounds.

Future-Proofing the Network

Perhaps the most forward-thinking part of this bill is the service standard. Setting the bar at 100 Mbps symmetrical (100 up and 100 down) is a strong move, recognizing that modern life requires just as much upload capacity for remote work, telemedicine, and education as it does download capacity for streaming. The Secretary is required to review and potentially adjust these minimum service levels at least every two years. This ensures the definition of “broadband” doesn’t become obsolete before the infrastructure is even finished, acknowledging that our need for speed is only going one direction: up.