Bill > S275

This bill, the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024, requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants seeking high-cost universal service program funding. The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to define "covered funding" as any new offer of high-cost universal service program funding for the deployment of broadband-capable networks and the provision of supported services. The FCC is required to initiate a rulemaking within 180 days to establish a vetting process that ensures applicants for new covered funding awards demonstrate the necessary technical, financial, and operational capabilities, as well as a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver the required services. The bill also sets penalties for pre-authorization defaults, requiring a minimum fine of $9,000 per violation and at least 30 percent of the applicant's total support, unless the FCC demonstrates the need for lower penalties.