Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2026

The Community Connect Grant Program Act of 2026 modifies the Rural Electrification Act to update eligibility criteria for broadband funding in rural areas. It raises the minimum internet speed requirements for grant recipients, increasing downstream capacity from 100 Mbps to 100 Mbps and upstream capacity from 20 Mbps to 20 Mbps, while also adjusting specific speed thresholds for other categories. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for certain program provisions from 2023 to 2031 and clarifies that future broadband commitments count toward eligibility. These changes directly affect rural communities and the financial institutions that administer broadband infrastructure grants.