H.R. 3970: Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-06-17 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-06-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act

Plain summary

Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act This bill authorizes the granting of an occupancy license to any person who requests access to a right-of-way that is owned by the federal government in order to place, construct, modify, or operate facilities for the provision of broadband service. Specifically, an executive agency with control over such a right-of-way may grant an occupancy license for the expansion of broadband service. An occupancy license may not have a duration of more than 30 years and may be automatically renewed. The granting agency must establish an annual license fee and make a decision regarding the issuance of the occupancy license within 60 days of receiving an application for a license. If the agency does not act on a request within 60 days, the application shall be considered granted.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Seth Moulton (D-MA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] reported raising $862,033 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr3970.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr3970 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117