Welch, Marshall Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Broadband Internet in Rural Communities

Oct 30, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.),Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development,Energy,and Credit,today joinedU.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)in reintroducing theReConnecting Rural America Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)ReConnect Loan and Grant Program. ReConnect plays a central role in expanding access to high-speed broadband in rural communities, where broadband access is severely limited compared to what is available in urban and suburban areas.
“The last few years have shown all of us how important high-speed broadband is to our communities. From online school and remote work to telemedicine, a good connection is essential,”said Senator Welch. “Many rural communities don’t have access to broadband at all, let alone the higher speeds needed to participate in today’s digital economy. Our bipartisan legislation will help more Americans access the service they need, with the help of USDA’s ReConnect Loan and Grant program. I’m glad to partner with Senator Marshall on this important bill.”
“Just as the great Kansan President Eisenhower understood the importance of investing in our nation’s highways in the 1950s, we must invest in the critical highway of our time: reliable, high-speed internet,”said Senator Marshall. “Broadband isn’t a luxury – it’s essential for our way of life. From family farms to schools to small businesses, rural communities depend on connectivity now more than ever. TheReConnecting Rural America Actwill help bring rural Kansas up to speed, and I am proud to work with Senator Welch to reintroduce this important legislation.”
As of early 2025,over a thirdof Americans lack access to one or no broadband provider. Recent data reports that more than45 millionAmericans lack fixed terrestrial 100/20 Mbps broadband, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) minimum standard for broadband speed. Many Americans, in particular in rural areas, lack access to higher-speed 100/100 Mbps service required to telecommute, access telemedicine, or participate in remote schooling.
TheReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025will codify and clarify components of the ReConnect Program and, in so doing, reduce red tape and speed broadband deployment. The bill will:
TheReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025is endorsed by the Fiber Broadband Association.
“The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) commends Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) for reintroducing theReconnecting Rural America Actin the U.S. Senate. This critical legislation represents another important step toward closing the digital divide and expanding access to symmetric, high-speed, future-proof broadband networks in rural communities across the country. By clarifying how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers grants and loans under the ReConnect program, the bill ensures that federal investments are used effectively and efficiently to deliver fast, reliable, and scalable broadband to unserved and underserved areas. FBA applauds this bipartisan commitment to strengthening America’s broadband infrastructure and ensuring that every household, business, and community has the connectivity needed to thrive in today’s digital economy,”said Gary Bolton,CEO,FBA.
Read more about USDA’s ReConnect Loan and Grant Programhere.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, Senator Welch has led the fight to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet across America. In January, Senator Welchpushedthen-USDA Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins to support broadband buildout in rural communities. Last Congress, Senator Welch helped secure more than$17 millionthrough USDA’s ReConnect Program to support NEK Community Broadband’s efforts to help low-income Vermonters access affordable broadband.
Read and downloadthe full text of the bill.
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