The record

LegislationLegislation· May 2026
S 98 Signed into law

Sponsored by Shelley Moore Capito (R)

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

Requires the FCC to vet broadband funding applicants for technical and financial qualifications.

Tradeoff

Adds a screening process for rural broadband grants to reduce waste and defaults. Applicants must prove they can build and operate networks before funding is awarded.

What's in it

See official bill text

Negligible federal cost to implement, with potential for small revenue increases from civil penalties after 2035.

The $500,000 or less is just the federal cost for the FCC to write new rules — the real impact falls on broadband providers competing for high-cost program funding, who face clearer evaluation standards and higher minimum penalties for service defaults.

S. 98, Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 · Mar 2025

The Senate passed this by on June 26, 2025. The House passed it by on April 20, 2026. Signed into law on May 11, 2026.

  1. Senate

    Introduced

    (Jan 15, 2025)

  2. Senate

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation(Jan 15, 2025)

  3. Senate

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to send it to the floor

    Reported(Feb 5, 2025)

    Committee report S. Rept. 119-14.

  4. Senate

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Jun 26, 2025)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  5. House

    Received from the Senate

    Received(Jul 3, 2025)

  6. House

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Apr 20, 2026)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  7. House

    Sent to the President

    (Apr 30, 2026)

  8. White House · Signature

    Signed

    Donald Trump (R)

  9. Enacted

    Became law(May 11, 2026)