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Senate bill · S. 98 (119th Congress)

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

U.S. Senate

Latest action May 11, 2026

Sponsor: Shelley Moore Capito (U.S. Senator for West Virginia, Republican)

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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Aug 1, 2026. About our data

Summary

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 This act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vet the qualifications of applicants for certain funding programs that support affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas (e.g., rural communities). Specifically, the FCC must develop a vetting process for applicants seeking funding under high-cost universal service programs for the deployment of a broadband-capable network and the provision of supported services over the network. The FCC must require applicants to submit a proposal that contains sufficient detail and documentation for the FCC to ascertain that the applicant possesses the technical, financial, and operational capabilities related to the proposed deployment and has a reasonable business plan. The FCC must evaluate applications against reasonable and well-established standards and must consider each applicant’s history of compliance with the requirements of other government broadband funding programs. The FCC must establish this vetting process through a rulemaking proceeding. After the rule is finalized, funds may only be awarded to applicants that satisfy the standards established therein. Finally, the FCC must set financial penalties for applicants that default in some manner during the evaluation process before they are authorized to begin receiving support.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Signed into law.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · U.S. Senate

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Cosponsors

4

Cosponsors listed on Congress.gov, shown A to Z.

  • Democratic3
  • Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

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Recorded votes

No recorded roll-call vote. Bills passed by voice vote or unanimous consent leave no member-level record.

Related bills

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

  1. May 11, 2026

    Enacted

    Became Public Law No: 119-89.

  2. May 11, 2026

    Enacted

    Became Public Law No: 119-89.

    U.S. Senate

  3. May 11, 2026

    Signed

    Signed by President.

    President

  4. Apr 30, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    Presented to President.

    President

  5. Apr 20, 2026

    Considered Under Suspension of the rules. (consideration: cr H2976-2978)

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2976-2978)

Show full history (12 earlier events)
  1. Apr 20, 2026

    Debate - the House Proceeded With Forty Minutes of Debate on S. 98.

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 98.

    U.S. House of Representatives

  2. Apr 20, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Apr 20, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2977)

    U.S. House of Representatives

  4. Jul 3, 2025

    Held at the desk.

  5. Jul 3, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    Received in the House.

    U.S. House of Representatives

  6. Jun 27, 2025

    Message on Senate Action Sent to the House.

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    U.S. Senate

  7. Jun 26, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3570; text: CR S3570)

    U.S. Senate

  8. Apr 28, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-14.

  9. Apr 28, 2025

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar Under General Orders. Calendar No. 48.

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 48.

    U.S. Senate

  10. Feb 5, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  11. Jan 15, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in U.S. Senate

    U.S. Senate

  12. Jan 15, 2025

    Referred to committee

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Read the record