PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 15, 2011
Rural Broadband Initiative Act - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives, to be headed by the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives.
States that the Under Secretary shall: (1) administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, including the rural broadband access loan and loan guarantee program and the community connect grant program; (2) conduct rural outreach; (3) foster development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision; (4) assess relevant technologies; (5) serve as a single information source for all federal rural broadband programs and services; and (6) provide technical assistance to state, regional, and local governments to develop broadband deployment strategies.
Directs the Under Secretary to submit: (1) a comprehensive rural broadband strategy report to the President and to Congress, and (2) a plan for a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel to Congress.
People & committees
Rep. Owens, William L. [D-NY-23] · D–NY
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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