S. 1617 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 6, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBrings broadband to farms in rural areas
The USDA would offer grants and loans to help bring broadband and wireless internet to active farms that currently lack it. These projects could connect structures, devices like tractors and drones, or irrigation systems to the internet. Broadband providers would bid for the work, and USDA would let competing providers submit offers before choosing who gets the funding.
How it affects you
Farmers and ranchers on active agricultural land without adequate broadband would gain access to internet connectivity for their operations. This could help them use modern farming technology that relies on internet connections. The bill doesn't affect most other Americans directly.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 6, 2025)
Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments Act of 2025 or the LAST ACRE Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make grants and loans to facilitate broadband and wireless connectivity projects on active agricultural land.
To be eligible for support, projects must involve (1) the provision of broadband service to structures and devices, including tractors, irrigation systems, and drones; (2) the provision of wireless connectivity to facilitate data transmission between structures and devices; or (3) activities that support the construction of wireless infrastructure. Projects must involve agricultural land that is used for the active production of agricultural commodities or livestock and that lacks broadband service at specified minimum speeds.
To apply for funding, a broadband or wireless connectivity provider must submit an initial bid to USDA relating to a project on eligible agricultural land. The application must include information on the provider’s engagement with the relevant farmer or rancher and a description of how the grant or loan assistance would be used to establish connectivity on the land. Once an initial bid is received, USDA must allow other providers that operate on or near the relevant land to submit competing bids.
Separately, the bill requires USDA to include in certain surveys of U.S. farmers questions related to whether and how respondents use broadband service at farm sites.
Finally, the bill repeals two USDA loan and grant programs that support innovative broadband projects and middle mile broadband infrastructure, respectively.
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 SessionS. 1617
A BILL
LAST ACRE Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) · Introduced May 6, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 6, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”