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S. 2654Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2018

Sponsored by Tina SmithSen. Tina Smith (D-MN)
Introduced April 12, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:08 PM UTC

The bill amends the Rural Electrification Act to create the Community Connect Grant Program, which gives federal grants to eligible entities—such as states, tribal groups, local governments, cooperatives, and private companies—to build and expand broadband service in rural areas. The program focuses on delivering service to essential community facilities and providing free wireless access for at least two years, affecting rural residents, businesses, and community centers.

Key Provisions

  • Defines “eligible broadband service” as service meeting FCC advanced telecommunications speed standards and defines “eligible entity” as organized bodies (states, tribes, local governments, cooperatives, corporations) but not individuals or partnerships.
  • Establishes the Community Connect Grant Program, authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants for rural broadband projects.
  • Requires grant projects to provide broadband to essential community facilities and to offer free wireless service with at least two computer access points for a minimum of two years.
  • Limits grant use to construction, acquisition, leasing of broadband infrastructure and improvement of community centers; prohibits duplication of existing service and most operating expenses.
  • Mandates that grant recipients contribute cash equal to at least 15% of the grant amount, not counting other federal funds unless specifically allowed.
  • Sets application requirements, including proof of matching funds, and directs the Secretary to manage the application process.
  • Appropriates up to $50 million each fiscal year to fund the program.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

April 12, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 12, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

April 12, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 12, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2654

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 12, 2018

Ms. Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish the Community Connect Grant Program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2018.

2.

Community Connect Grant Program

Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

604.

Community Connect Grant Program

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Eligible broadband service

The term eligible broadband service means broadband service, as defined in section 601, that operates at or above the applicable minimum download and upload speeds established by the Federal Communications Commission in defining the term advanced telecommunications capability for purposes of section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302).

(2)

Eligible entity

(A)

In general

The term eligible entity means a legally organized entity that—

(i)

is—

(I)

an incorporated organization;

(II)

an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;

(III)

a State;

(IV)

a unit of local government; or

(V)

any other legal entity, including a cooperative, a private corporation, or a limited liability company, that is organized on a for-profit or a not-for-profit basis; and

(ii)

has the legal capacity and authority to enter into a contract, to comply with applicable Federal laws, and to own and operate broadband facilities, as proposed in the application submitted by the entity for a grant under the Program.

(B)

Exclusions

The term eligible entity does not include—

(i)

an individual; or

(ii)

a partnership.

(3)

Program

The term Program means the Community Connect Grant Program established under subsection (b).

(4)

Rural area

The term rural area has the meaning given the term in section 601(b)(3)(A).

(b)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Community Connect Grant Program, to provide grants to eligible entities to finance broadband transmission in rural areas.

(c)

Eligible projects

An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall use the grant to carry out a project that—

(1)

provides eligible broadband service to, within the proposed eligible broadband service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity—

(A)

each essential community facility funded under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)); and

(B)

any required facilities necessary to offer that eligible broadband service to each residential and business customer; and

(2)

for not less than 2 years—

(A)

furnishes free wireless eligible broadband service to a community center described in subsection (d)(1)(B);

(B)

provides not fewer than 2 computer access points for that free wireless eligible broadband service; and

(C)

covers the cost of bandwidth to provide free eligible broadband service to each essential community facility funded under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) within the proposed eligible broadband service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity.

(d)

Uses of grant funds

(1)

In general

An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program may use the grant for—

(A)

the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities (including spectrum), land, or buildings to deploy eligible broadband service; and

(B)

the improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a community center within the proposed eligible broadband service area described in the application submitted by the eligible entity.

(2)

Ineligible uses

An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall not use the grant for—

(A)

the duplication of any existing eligible broadband service provided by another entity; or

(B)

operating expenses, except as provided in—

(i)

subsection (c)(2)(C) with respect to free wireless eligible broadband service; and

(ii)

paragraph (1)(A) with respect to spectrum.

(3)

Free access for community centers

Of the amounts provided to an eligible entity under a grant under the Program, the eligible entity shall use to carry out paragraph (1)(B) not greater than the lesser of—

(A)

10 percent; and

(B)

$150,000.

(e)

Matching funds

(1)

In general

An eligible entity that receives a grant under the Program shall provide a cash contribution in an amount that is not less than 15 percent of the amount of the grant.

(2)

Requirements

A cash contribution described in paragraph (1)—

(A)

shall be used solely for the project for which the eligible entity receives a grant under the Program; and

(B)

shall not include any Federal funds, unless a Federal statute specifically provides that those Federal funds may be considered to be from a non-Federal source.

(f)

Applications

(1)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(2)

Requirement

An application submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall include documentation sufficient to demonstrate the availability of funds to satisfy the requirement of subsection (e).

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each fiscal year.

.