Bill > HR3212

This bill establishes the Last Acre Program, a new federal initiative designed to expand high-speed internet access for agricultural producers in unserved and underserved rural areas. The program will provide competitive grants and loans to telecommunications providers to deliver qualifying broadband connectivity to agricultural lands, with a minimum service speed of 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream. The bill prioritizes connectivity in remote and agricultural areas, with special consideration for limited resource farmers and ranchers. Providers must meet specific cybersecurity requirements and can use the funds to build wireless infrastructure, retrofit existing structures like water towers or grain elevators, and provide internet access to agricultural equipment such as tractors, irrigation systems, and farm offices. The program has a $20 million annual budget for fiscal years 2026-2030 and requires recipients to complete network buildout within four years. Additionally, the bill mandates that the National Agricultural Statistics Service collect more comprehensive data on broadband adoption in agricultural settings, including internet speeds and usage for precision agriculture technologies. The goal is to support technological advancement and efficiency in the agricultural sector by bridging the digital divide in rural communities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3212/all-info