HR 2399 119th Congress

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

Latest Action

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.

Congress.gov

Sponsors

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

R — IN

Summary

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a process to vet applicants for certain funding programs that support affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas, including rural communities. Specifically, the FCC must conduct a rulemaking to develop a vetting process for applicants seeking funding under high-cost universal service programs for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network. The FCC must require applications for such funding to document each applicant’s technical, financial, and operational capabilities related to the proposed deployment, as well as a reasonable business plan.  The FCC must evaluate applications against reasonable and well-established standards and must consider each applicant’s history of compliance with the requirements of other government broadband funding programs. After the rulemaking is finalized, funds may only be awarded to applicants that satisfy the standards established therein.  Finally, the FCC must set financial penalties for applicants that default in some manner during the evaluation process before they are authorized to begin receiving support.

Actions

2025-04-29T00:00:00

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.

2025-04-28T00:00:00

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

2025-04-28T00:00:00

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1662-1663)

2025-04-28T00:00:00

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1662-1663)

2025-04-28T00:00:00

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2399.

2025-04-28T00:00:00

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1662-1663)

2025-04-28T00:00:00

Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

2025-04-24T00:00:00

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 55.

2025-04-24T00:00:00

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-78.

2025-04-24T00:00:00

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-78.

2025-04-08T00:00:00

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 1.

2025-04-08T00:00:00

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

2025-03-27T00:00:00

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2025-03-27T00:00:00

Introduced in House

2025-03-27T00:00:00

Introduced in House

Policy Areas

Science, Technology, Communications

Track this bill on CivicBeacon

Get push notifications when this bill is updated, contact your reps, and take action.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play