--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3154g" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "3154g" heading: "High-speed broadband deployment initiative" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3154g" units: - "Chapter 38 — Public Works and Economic Development" - "Subchapter II — Grants for Public Works and Economic Development" --- # §3154g. High-speed broadband deployment initiative - (a) **Definitions—** In this section: - (1) **Broadband project—** The term “broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2)” means, for the purposes of providing, extending, expanding, or improving high-speed broadband service to further the goals of this chapter— - (A) planning, technical assistance, or training; - (B) the acquisition or development of land; or - (C) the acquisition, design and engineering, [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), rehabilitation, alteration, expansion, or improvement of facilities, including related machinery, equipment, contractual rights, and intangible property. - (2) **Eligible recipient—** - (A) **In general—** The term “[eligible recipient](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A)” means an [eligible recipient](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A). - (B) **Inclusions—** The term “[eligible recipient](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A)” includes— - (i) a public-private partnership; and - (ii) a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) formed for the purpose of providing, extending, expanding, or improving high-speed broadband service between 1 or more [eligible recipients](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A) and 1 or more for-profit organizations. - (3) **High-speed broadband—** The term “high-speed broadband” means the provision of 2-way data transmission with sufficient downstream and upstream speeds to end users to permit effective participation in the economy and to support economic growth, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13). - (b) **Broadband projects—** - (1) **In general—** On the application of an [eligible recipient](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may make [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) under this subchapter for broadband [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), which shall be subject to the provisions of this section. - (2) **Considerations—** In reviewing applications submitted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) shall take into consideration geographic diversity of [grants](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) provided, including consideration of underserved markets, in addition to data requested in [paragraph (3)](#b-3). - (3) **Data requested—** In reviewing an application submitted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) shall request from the Federal Communications Commission, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) of Agriculture, and the Appalachian [Regional Commission](/usc/42/3122.md?p=12) data on— - (A) the level and extent of broadband service that exists in the area proposed to be served; and - (B) the level and extent of broadband service that will be deployed in the area proposed to be served pursuant to another Federal program. - (4) **Interest in real or personal property—** For any broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out by an [eligible recipient](/usc/42/3122.md?p=6-A) that is a public-private partnership or [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) shall require that title to any real or personal property acquired or improved with [grant](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) funds, or if the recipient will not acquire title, another possessory interest acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13), be vested in a public partner or eligible [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization or association for the useful life of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), after which title may be transferred to any member of the public-private partnership or [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) in accordance with regulations promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13). - (5) **Procurement—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person or entity shall be disqualified from competing to provide goods or services related to a broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) on the basis that the person or entity participated in the development of the broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or in the drafting of specifications, requirements, statements of work, or similar documents related to the goods or services to be provided. - (6) **Broadband project property—** - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may permit a recipient of a [grant](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) for a broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to [grant](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) an option to acquire real or personal property (including contractual rights and intangible property) related to that [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to a third party on such terms as the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) determines to be appropriate, subject to the condition that the option may only be exercised after the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) releases the Federal interest in the property. - (B) **Treatment—** The [grant](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) or exercise of an option described in [subparagraph (A)](#b-6-A) shall not constitute a redistribution of [grant](/usc/42/3122.md?p=8) funds under [section 3154c of this title](/usc/42/3154c.md). - (c) **Non-Federal share—** In determining the amount of the non-Federal share of the cost of a broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may provide credit toward the non-Federal share for the present value of allowable contributions over the useful life of the broadband [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), subject to the condition that the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) may require such assurances of the value of the rights and of the commitment of the rights as the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) determines to be appropriate. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 89–136, title II, § 221, as added Pub. L. 118–272, div. B, title II, § 2223, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 3188.)