The ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 establishes a federal broadband funding program to bring high-speed internet to underserved rural areas across the country. The bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute grants, loans, and combined grant-loan packages to eligible organizations—including state and local governments, tribal entities, cooperatives, and private companies—to build broadband infrastructure in rural communities lacking adequate service. Projects must deliver at least 100 megabits per second download and upload speeds, with priority given to the most underserved areas with populations under 10,000 and high poverty rates. The legislation provides $650 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the main program, plus an additional $350 million per year for direct loans, with a requirement that 3-5 percent of funding support technical assistance to help applicants prepare proposals. All funded projects must be completed within five years, and the program sunsets on September 30, 2030, preventing awards after that date.
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