Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act

The Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act (H.R. 4351) is a bipartisan bill designed to help small and rural ports access federal funding to improve their high-speed internet infrastructure. The legislation would require the Department of Agriculture to give priority to broadband grant and loan applications from ports that handle less than one million tons of cargo annually.

For citizens in coastal and inland waterway communities, this bill aims to modernize local "working waterfronts" by making them more competitive and safer through better connectivity. If passed, these small ports could more easily secure the resources needed to coordinate deliveries, track inventory, and access real-time weather updates, which supports local commerce and tourism.