Bill > S1617

This bill establishes the Last Acre Program, a competitive grant and loan initiative aimed at expanding high-speed internet access for agricultural producers in unserved and underserved rural areas. The program, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, will provide funding to covered providers (internet and wireless service providers) to deploy broadband internet with specific technical requirements, such as minimum download and upload speeds of 100 Mbps and 20 Mbps respectively. The bill prioritizes funding for remote and unserved areas, with a particular focus on supporting limited resource farmers and ranchers. Providers must meet cybersecurity standards and submit detailed applications demonstrating their ability to provide reliable connectivity for precision agriculture technologies like tractors, drones, irrigation systems, and farm sensors. The bill also includes provisions for competing bids, a maximum four-year buildout timeline, and requires annual reporting to Congress about program outcomes. Additionally, the bill mandates that the National Agricultural Statistics Service collect more comprehensive data on broadband adoption and usage in agricultural settings, including internet speeds and specific agricultural applications of connectivity.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1617/all-info