119th Congress Science, Technology, Communications
H.R. 2399: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
Passed House
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
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.
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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.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Robin Kelly D-ILOriginal
Who scored on this bill
- 1Erin Houchin SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, marked up, reported, passed House5 events+68
- 2Robin KellyCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Erin Houchin
History
- Passed the House by voice vote.
- Introduced in the House by Erin Houchin.
Show the full action history (13 actions)
- Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.
- Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1662-1663)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2399.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1662-1663)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1662-1663)
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-78.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 55.
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 1.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.