S. 98 — Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

This section directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a rulemaking within 180 days of enactment to establish a vetting process—consistent with technology neutrality—for applicants and recipients of new high-cost universal service fund awards (i.e., funding, including via reverse auctions, for broadband-capable network deployment and supported services in high-cost areas). The process requires applicants to submit detailed proposals demonstrating technical, financial, and operational capabilities and a reasonable business plan, evaluated against FCC broadband availability reporting standards (e.g., Digital Opportunity Data Collection) and the applicant's compliance history in prior government broadband programs. (Thus, the FCC may award funding only to qualified applicants.) It also requires rules setting a minimum penalty of $9,000 per pre-authorization default, with base forfeiture of at least 30% of the applicant's total support unless the FCC justifies a lower amount.