Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Funding for USDA Broadband, Watershed, and Bioproduct Programs

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Funding for USDA Broadband, Watershed, and Bioproduct Programs

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December 8, 2021
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Funding for
USDA Broadband, Watershed, and Bioproduct Programs
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law
($118 million) than the total amount appropriated for the
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-
program annually over the last decade ($116 million;
58). The act provides funding for the nation’s infrastructure,
FY2012-FY2021).
including roads, highways, electric systems, and railway
systems. The act also funds programs administered by the
USDA Broadband Funding
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that deploy rural
In general, USDA broadband programs fund deployment of
broadband, protect watersheds, and create a new bioproduct
high-speed internet in rural areas where households have
pilot program. This In Focus provides an overview of the
historically had lower access to broadband compared with
IIJA funding for USDA programs.
households in urban and suburban areas (see Figure 1).
Lack of access to broadband occurs in areas throughout the
In total, IIJA provides more than $2.9 billion in new budget
country but is widespread throughout the South, especially
authority over 10 years for USDA programs, not including
in the Mississippi River basin and selected counties in the
programs administered by the U.S. Forest Service (see
Midwest and West.
Table 1). This includes $2 billion for rural broadband
programs, $918 million for watershed programs, and $10
IIJA includes funding for two USDA programs that expand
million for a new biodproduct pilot program.
broadband access in rural communities: the ReConnect
Program and the Rural Broadband Program. These two
Table 1. IIJA Funding for Programs Within the
programs help construct and improve facilities required to
Jurisdiction of Agriculture Appropriations
provide broadband access to rural areas.
Dol ars in millions, FY2022-FY2031
Figure 1. Broadband Deployment in the United States
10-Year
Program
Total
Broadband Programs

ReConnect Program
$1,926
Rural Broadband Program
$74
Watershed Programs

Watershed and Flood Prevention
$500
Operations
Watershed Rehabilitation Program
$118
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
$300

Agricultural Research Program

Source: Federal Communications Commission, “Fixed Broadband
Deployment Map,” accessed November 16, 2021, available at
Bioproduct Pilot Program
$10
https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov.
Total Budget Authority
$2,928
Notes: The number of internet service providers offering 25/3 Mbps
fixed broadband service (excluding satellite) is indicated by color. The
Source: Created by CRS using Congressional Budget Office estimate
scale ranges from cream (no service providers offering broadband) to
for Division J of H.R. 3684, November 3, 2021.
dark blue (12 or more internet service providers offering broadband).
IIJA provides more funding for the existing USDA
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Funding
broadband and watershed programs listed in Table 1 than
IIJA provides $2 billion for USDA broadband programs, to
Congress has appropriated for these same programs in
remain available until expended (see Table 1). This
FY2019, FY2020, and FY2021. For example, the IIJA
includes $1.926 billion for ReConnect Program grants and
funding allocated for the ReConnect Program ($1.9 billion)
loans and $74 million for Rural Broadband Program loans.
is more than the total amount Congress provided for the
IIJA allows up to 4% of the funding ($80 million) for both
program in FY2019, FY2020, and FY2021 annual
programs to be used for administrative costs and up to 3%
appropriations acts combined ($1.7 billion). Similarly, the
of funding ($60 million) to be used for technical assistance
Watershed Rehabilitation Program receives more from IIJA
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to applicants. It directs $5 million of the technical
The Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO)
assistance to establish and support cooperatives to offer
program consists of two authorities—Watershed Protection
broadband service. Additionally, the bill directs USDA to
and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-566) and Flood
collaborate with the Federal Communications Commission
Control Act of 1944 (P.L. 78-534). These authorize NRCS
and the National Telecommunications and Information
to provide technical and financial assistance to state and
Administration in awarding funding for broadband projects.
local organizations to plan and install measures to prevent
erosion, sedimentation, and flood damage and to conserve,
IIJA Requirements for ReConnect Projects
develop, and utilize land and water resources.
IIJA includes language that directs USDA on how to
administer the ReConnect Program funding. The IIJA
Dams previously constructed under the WFPO program
provisions generally are more restrictive than the
may be eligible to receive assistance under a second
ReConnect Program requirements in the most recent
watershed program—the Watershed Rehabilitation
Funding Opportunity Announcement (86 Federal Register
Program. This program funds rehabilitation projects for
58860), including the following:
dams previously constructed with NRCS assistance in order
to bring them into compliance with applicable safety and
 Service Area Requirements. IIJA defines eligible
performance standards, or to decommission the dams so
service areas as rural areas where at least 50% of
they no longer pose a threat to life and property.
households do not have sufficient broadband access
(broadband at speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps).
The third watershed program is the Emergency Watershed
Protection (EWP) program, which provides technical and
 Set-Aside for High-Need Rural Areas. IIJA requires
financial assistance to reduce hazards to life and property in
that 10% of the funding (i.e., $192.6 million) be set
watersheds damaged by natural disasters. IIJA requires
aside for service areas where at least 90% of households
USDA to provide detailed spending plans, including project
do not have sufficient broadband access (broadband at
locations and cost, to Congress within 90 days of enactment
speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps).
for the WFPO program and the Watershed Rehabilitation
Program. IIJA also directs EWP funding to “repair damages
 Broadband Buildout Speed. IIJA requires projects to
to waterways and watersheds resulting from natural
provide broadband service to premises within the
disasters.” All funding for the watershed programs is to
proposed service area at minimum speeds of 100/20
remain available until expended.
Mbps.
Bioproduct Pilot Program
 Rural in Character Exception. IIJA allows USDA to
IIJA establishes a pilot program to study the benefits of
allocate up to $50 million to projects in areas that do not
using agricultural commodities to produce construction
meet the rural area definition but are determined to be
products and consumer products. The benefits to be studied
rural in character. The existing rural in character
include cost savings, greenhouse gas emission reductions,
designation (7 U.S.C. §1991(a)(13)) allows the
life cycle and longevity-extending characteristics, product
Secretary of Agriculture to consider communities that
development, and production scale-up, among others. The
do not meet the definition of a rural area to be eligible
program is appropriated $5 million for each of FY2022
for certain funding if they have qualities that are rural in
through FY2023 (see Table 1).
character. Rural areas are defined as areas with 20,000
or fewer inhabitants and not adjacent to a city that has a
Additional CRS Resources
population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants (7 U.S.C.
 CRS Report R46912, USDA Rural Broadband, Electric,
§950bb(b)(3)).
and Water Programs: FY2022 Appropriations, by Lisa

S. Benson
Match Waived for Certain Communities. IIJA waives
the matching funds requirement for grant applicants that
 CRS Report R46971, Agricultural Conservation:
are for Alaska Native Corporations or federally
FY2022 Appropriations, by Megan Stubbs
recognized Indian tribes on underserved trust lands. The
matching funds requirement is also waived for grant
 CRS Report R45943, The Farm Bill Energy Title: An
projects that serve colonias or persistent poverty
Overview and Funding History, by Kelsi Bracmort
counties (i.e., counties that have had a poverty rate of
20% or higher over the past 30 years).
Lisa S. Benson, Analyst in Agricultural Policy
These provisions do not apply to the Rural Broadband
Megan Stubbs, Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and
Program.
Natural Resources Policy
Kelsi Bracmort, Specialist in Natural Resources and
USDA Watershed Funding
Energy Policy
USDA provides assistance for watershed activities under
three primary programs that are administered by the Natural
IF11990
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). IIJA provides a
total of $918 million for all three watershed programs (see
Table 1).
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Funding for USDA Broadband, Watershed, and Bioproduct Programs

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