H.R. 4374 would establish or reauthorize programs administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase broadband connectivity in rural areas and would authorize the appropriation of specific annual amounts over the 2022-2029 period. Because specific amounts are already authorized for most of the programs, this cost estimate accounts for the difference between the amounts specified in the bill and those authorized under current law.
On net, H.R. 4374 would authorize the appropriation of about $42.3 billion. Using historical spending patterns for similar activities and information provided by USDA, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4374 would cost $9.0 billion over the 2022-2026 period, $33.5 billion over the 2022-2031 period and $7.0 billion after 2031, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 450 (community and regional development).
