H.R. 8145 — Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act

This section expands the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program—administered by the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service to provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees for telecommunications infrastructure and services that support telemedicine and distance learning for students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents—to also cover cybersecurity support; digital literacy; and workforce development and job training services in rural areas, including training a workforce to build broadband infrastructure. Specifically, the section (1) updates the section heading and multiple definitions and eligibility criteria to incorporate the new services; (2) adds as a funding priority the need for distance workforce development and job training to support rural broadband construction; and (3) adds as an eligible grant purpose providing such workforce training. Amendments take effect 6 months after enactment.