Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
On May 11, 2026, the President signed two Congressional bills into law affecting broadband funding and hydropower projects.
S. 98, the "Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025," requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to begin a rulemaking proceeding to establish procedures for vetting applicants for high-cost universal service program funding, supporting broadband-capable networks.
S. 1020 authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend by six years the deadline for starting construction on certain hydropower projects.
These laws aim to expand rural broadband access and provide additional time for hydropower project development under federal oversight.