NJ S852

Expands the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) small business loan program to include broadband telecommunications service providers certified by the Board of Public Utilities to serve rural areas.

Defines eligible broadband service as offering minimum speeds of 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload through any technology.

Defines rural areas as municipalities with 30,000 or fewer inhabitants and population density less than 4,000 persons per square mile based on the latest federal census.

Eligible providers include persons, businesses, for-profit or nonprofit corporations, partnerships, and rural electric cooperatives certified to offer broadband in rural New Jersey.

Requires the EDA to consult with the Board of Public Utilities when administering loans to broadband providers and when adopting implementing rules and regulations.