# Broadband Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2021

This bill creates a new way for the federal government to help pay for building high-speed internet networks across America, particularly in rural and underserved areas where companies haven't built infrastructure on their own. Instead of just giving money directly to internet providers, the government would offer loans and other financial tools to help fund broadband projects.

The core idea is to make it easier and cheaper for communities to build or expand their internet networks by offering federal loans at favorable rates, loan guarantees, and other financing options. Think of it like a bank that specializes in broadband projects, offering better terms than traditional lenders would. This is meant to speed up the process of getting high-speed internet to places that currently have slow or no internet access, which affects everything from remote work and online school to telemedicine and business opportunities.

The bill also aims to encourage innovation in how broadband gets built and delivered. By creating this financing mechanism, it gives communities and companies more flexibility in how they approach internet infrastructure projects. This could mean supporting different technologies and approaches beyond traditional cable or fiber networks. The legislation essentially recognizes that many Americans still lack reliable broadband access and that traditional market forces alone haven't solved the problem, so the federal government needs to step in with financial tools to help close that gap.

Broadband Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2021

Luján, Ben Ray

Broadband Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2021 This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to make financing available for the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure through a broadband infrastructure finance and innovation program. Specifically, the bill provides a means for communities and public-private partnerships to apply for low-interest secured loans, lines of credit, or loan guarantees to finance broadband infrastructure investments. The bill provides funding to carry out the program, and it requires biennial reports on the financial performance of projects carried out with program assistance.