President Donald Trump signed the Rural Broadband Protection Act into law Monday, establishing additional vetting requirements for internet service providers seeking to participate in Federal Communications Commission high-cost broadband programs.

The legislation was introduced by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah.

According to the release, the law is intended to increase accountability and transparency in broadband expansion efforts and add safeguards to the Universal Service Fund high-cost program by directing funding toward companies with demonstrated experience serving hard-to-reach areas.

The FCC’s High Cost program provides funding to telecommunications carriers to provide service in rural areas where the cost of deploying network infrastructure cannot be supported by the market alone. The program historically subsidized voice service to help maintain comparable rates in rural and urban areas.

According to the release, the FCC began modernizing the program in 2011 to support broadband expansion and improve access to affordable internet service in underserved communities.

“I am thrilled to see this legislation become the law of the land,” Capito said. “I originally introduced RBPA in 2022 because countless conversations I had with West Virginians made it clear that the FCC needs congressional direction to ensure taxpayer money is being used properly to fund broadband deployment in rural areas. This legislation will streamline broadband dollars coming to West Virginia to our providers, and move toward our goal of closing the digital divide in communities of all sizes across our state.”