Mobile Courant

U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Jerry Moran have reintroduced a legislative measure aimed at amending the Internal Revenue Code to prevent federal broadband deployment funding from being taxed as income. The current taxation policy includes grants awarded to broadband providers for deployment in their taxable income. This bipartisan legislation seeks to exempt such grants from an organization's taxable income, allowing full utilization of federal funds for broadband expansion without reverting any portion back to the government through taxes.

Senator Tuberville emphasized the importance of rural communities having access to high-speed internet, stating, "Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and we want to ensure that Americans living in these communities have access to high-speed internet." He further noted that taxing these grants would hinder state efforts in expanding rural broadband.

Senator Moran highlighted the necessity of reliable internet, saying, "Reliable, high-speed internet is more crucial than ever for Kansans to run their businesses, access telehealth or pursue an education." He described the legislation as "commonsense" and essential for maximizing the impact of federal resources on broadband deployment.

The bill has garnered support from several senators including Shelley Moore Capito, Kevin Cramer, Deb Fischer, Tim Kaine, Mark Kelly, Angus King, Dan Sullivan, Mark Warner, Raphael Warnock, and Roger Wicker.

Senator Tuberville had previously cosponsored this legislation during the 118th Congress.