H.R. 1838 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Mar 4, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBroadband access near rural maritime ports
This bill gives priority to broadband projects near rural maritime ports when applications are reviewed for USDA grants and loans. It also adjusts how the rural broadband program works overall, including changing grant amounts and requiring communities to have higher percentages of people without broadband service to qualify for loans. Recipients of funding must share location data about the new or upgraded broadband service with the USDA.
How it affects you
Ports and shore-side facilities in rural areas may be more likely to get broadband funding under this bill. Communities in rural areas seeking broadband support will face stricter requirements to qualify, and those that do receive funding will need to provide detailed information about their new broadband coverage to the government.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 4, 2025)
Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act
This bill establishes priority for broadband projects near rural maritime ports under the Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural broadband grant and loan program, and makes other specified changes to the program’s structure and available support.
Under current law, the rural broadband program provides grants, loans, and loan guarantees for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of broadband facilities and equipment in rural areas. The bill adjusts the level of priority given to certain categories of projects, including through the establishment of a new priority for projects that would increase broadband service in ports and shore-side facilities in rural areas.
The bill also makes changes to the program’s parameters, including by changing available grant amounts and increasing the percentage of households in a community that must be unserved or underserved with broadband in order for projects in the community to qualify for loans or loan guarantees. Further, as a condition of receiving support, recipients must share with USDA geolocation information on new or upgraded broadband service established under the program.
For proposed projects given high priority, the bill requires USDA to confirm that the relevant communities are currently unserved by conferring with relevant federal agencies and other broadband service data sources, and by performing site-specific testing to verify the unavailability of residential broadband service.
Finally, the bill requires USDA to provide feedback and decisions to applicants in a timely manner, and to use certain program funds for oversight and accountability measures.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1838
A BILL
Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act
Sponsor: Del. Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI-At Large) · Introduced Mar 4, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 28, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.”