A broadband update from Senator Tina Smith’s office…

Broadband/Telecom

• $35 million in the omnibus spending bill for the Community Connect Grant Program, which provides grants for broadband in rural areas. Tina led this program’s inclusion in the 2018 Farm Bill.
• $250 million in the COVID relief bill for the FCC’s COVID Telehealth Program, which reimburses healthcare providers for telehealth equipment. Tina introduced a bill to do this.
• $98 million in the COVID/omnibus bills to improve broadband mapping. Tina cosponsored this bill when it was originally introduced and she has cosigned letters advocating for improved mapping.
• $3.2 billion in the COVID relief bill to help low-income/unemployed/tribal households’ maintain their internet. Tina cosponsored this bill when it was originally introduced.