Trump Signs Rural Broadband Protection Act Into Law, Strengthening FCC Vetting of USF Applicants

President Trump signed the Rural Broadband Protection Act (S.98) into law on May 11, 2026. The bipartisan bill — sponsored by Senators Capito (R-WV), Klobuchar (D-MN), and Curtis (R-UT) — requires the FCC to conduct enhanced financial vetting of ISP applicants before committing Universal Service Fund (USF) high-cost program dollars, including minimum financial penalties for pre-funding default. The legislation was designed to prevent fraud in rural broadband subsidy programs following several high-profile cases where ISPs received federal subsidies but failed to deploy services. The act strengthens accountability in the $8 billion-per-year Universal Service Fund and applies to all future high-cost rural broadband disbursements, including BEAD program allocations channeled through the USF. Senators framed the law as essential to ensuring public investment in rural connectivity actually reaches underserved communities.