# Connect America Act of 2021: Plain Language Summary

This bill creates a new federal program to bring high-speed internet to parts of the country that currently lack it or have slow connections. The government would set aside money specifically for expanding broadband access in rural and underserved areas, separate from existing internet programs. The program would work in two main ways: the federal government would directly fund some projects through competitive bidding (where companies bid to provide service), while also giving money to individual states to run their own bidding processes for broadband expansion in their areas.

The bill prioritizes getting fast internet to the places that need it most. It sets aside 20 percent of the funding specifically for projects that can deliver gigabit-speed internet (extremely fast, suitable for modern applications like video conferencing and streaming). The remaining funds would go to projects offering more basic high-speed service. Areas where at least 90 percent of people have no broadband or only slow internet get first priority for funding. The bill also includes preferences for projects that serve Native American lands, low-income communities, and areas that can show local community support.

To prevent waste and ensure money goes to qualified providers, the bill requires the government to establish clear standards for which companies can participate. Providers must prove they have the financial resources, technical expertise, and track record to actually build and operate the networks they're proposing. States accepting federal money must use it through competitive bidding processes and can spend no more than 5 percent of their funds on administrative costs. The bill also includes safeguards to make sure federal broadband money doesn't duplicate efforts—if one program is already funding an area, this program won't fund the same location.

Connect America Act of 2021

Welch, Peter

Connect America Act of 2021 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a funding program to expand broadband access for unserved areas, areas with low-tier or mid-tier service, and unserved anchor institutions (e.g., schools or libraries). The program shall consist of both national systems of competitive bidding and grants of specified amounts to states. An area with low-tier service is an area where at least 90% of the population has access to broadband service with speeds between 25-100 megabits per second (mbps). An area with mid-tier service is an area where at least 90% of the population has access to broadband service with speeds between 100 mbps and 1 gigabit per second. Priority must be given to projects that would expand access to broadband service in areas where at least 90% of the population has no access to broadband service or to service with speeds of at least 25 mbps.