A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing to extend federal support for broadband infrastructure aimed at improving internet access in rural America.
U.S. Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., introduced the Middle Mile for Rural America Act, legislation that would reauthorize a U.S. Department of Agriculture program supporting middle-mile broadband projects for another five years.
The bill proposes a reauthorization covering fiscal years 2026 through 2031, extending authority under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to fund middle-mile broadband infrastructure that connects rural communities to high-speed internet networks.
RUS has been working on middle mile since 2018…
The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service gained authority to support stand-alone middle-mile broadband projects under the 2018 Farm Bill. Prior to that change, middle-mile infrastructure could only be funded indirectly through last-mile broadband projects.
A slight change would extend support…
If enacted, the Middle Mile for Rural America Act would amend Section 602(g) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 by replacing “2018 through 2023” with “2026 through 2031,” extending USDA’s authority to support middle-mile broadband infrastructure in rural communities.