New Bipartisan House Bills Take Aim at Strengthening Rural Broadband Access
The four introduced bills look to expand broadband access, modernize utilities, and improve USDA programs.
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2026 – Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., introduced four bipartisan bills aimed at bridging the rural broadband and access gaps.
Cosponsored by Rep. Robert P. Bresnahan, R-Pa., McClain Delaney said the bills were aimed at addressing the “dire need to lower costs and remove barriers to access” in rural America. The lawmakers said the bills would strengthen programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by amending, modernizing, or streamlining processes for utility access.
“The affordability crisis is hitting rural America hard. Across the country, broadband, electricity, and clean water remain out of reach for far too many families, including those in Maryland’s Sixth District,” McClain Delaney said. “All communities–regardless of ZIP code–must have the tools, access, and connectivity they need to prosper, innovate, and thrive in our 21st-Century global economy.”
Member discussion