S. 3633 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 14, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryFunds rural broadband backbone infrastructure
The bill reauthorizes a Department of Agriculture program that has been on the books since 2018 but never actually received funding. The program gives grants, loans, and loan guarantees to help build middle mile broadband infrastructure in rural areas—the high-capacity network backbone that connects smaller networks and major internet hubs, rather than the last-mile connections that reach individual homes and businesses. By reauthorizing through 2031, the bill keeps this funding tool available and ready to deploy.
How it affects you
If you live in a rural area, this matters because better middle mile infrastructure is foundational to faster internet service in your region. Rural broadband providers and anchor institutions like libraries and hospitals in countryside areas would benefit directly from access to these grants and loans, which could improve the backbone infrastructure their networks depend on.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 14, 2026)
Middle Mile for Rural America Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 a Department of Agriculture program to support middle mile broadband infrastructure in rural areas. Under the program, m iddle mile infrastructure is broadband infrastructure that does not connect directly to end users (including anchor institutions) and may include interoffice transport, backhaul, internet connectivity, data centers, or special access transport to rural areas.
The program provides grants, loans, and loan guarantees for middle mile projects in rural areas. It was established in 2018 but has not been funded.
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.
2nd SessionS. 3633
A BILL
Middle Mile for Rural America Act
Sponsor: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) · Introduced Jan 14, 2026 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 14, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”