Congressional Bills S. 98 and S. 1020 Signed Into Law
Impact Score: 2.6
Timeline: S. 98 requires FCC rulemaking with no specific deadline; S. 1020 extends hydropower project construction deadlines by 6 years.
Summary: On May 11, 2026, two bills were signed into law: the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 (S. 98), which mandates the FCC to establish a vetting process for broadband funding applicants, and S. 1020, authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend hydropower project construction deadlines by six years. These laws may increase scrutiny on broadband initiatives and impact funding availability, affecting Vanderbilt’s research, education, and energy programs.
Key Actions: Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering should collaborate with the FCC on broadband initiatives; the Office of Federal Relations should engage with energy policy stakeholders; the Nursing Department should leverage rural workforce funding; and Research Administration should pursue new federal grants.
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