The Rural Broadband Initiative Act (S. 1032), introduced by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), would extend and improve access to broadband services in small towns across America. The legislation creates a policy and action framework to ensure that the federal government employs an effective and comprehensive strategy to deploy broadband service and access in rural areas across the United States.

The bill will establish a Rural Broadband Innovation fund to explore and develop cutting edge broadband delivery technologies to reach underserved rural areas. It also amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 by directing the Department of Agriculture to establish the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives, to be headed by the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives.

This bill is identical to H.R. 2174.