Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
II
117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 2018
To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and
Information to establish a State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JUNE 10, 2021
Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. PORTMAN, and Mr. KING) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Commu-
nications and Information to establish a State Digital
Equity Capacity Grant Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Digital Equity Act of
4
2021’’.
5
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
6
In this Act:
7
(1) ADOPTION
OF
BROADBAND.—The term
8
‘‘adoption of broadband’’ means the process by
9
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2
•S 2018 IS
which an individual obtains daily access to the inter-
1
net—
2
(A) at a speed, quality, and capacity—
3
(i) that is necessary for the individual
4
to accomplish common tasks; and
5
(ii) such that the access qualifies as
6
an advanced telecommunications capability;
7
(B) with the digital skills that are nec-
8
essary for the individual to participate online;
9
and
10
(C) on a—
11
(i) personal device; and
12
(ii) secure and convenient network.
13
(2) ADVANCED
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CAPA-
14
BILITY.—The term ‘‘advanced telecommunications
15
capability’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
16
tion 706(d) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
17
(47 U.S.C. 1302(d)).
18
(3) AGING INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘aging indi-
19
vidual’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘older indi-
20
vidual’’ in section 102 of the Older Americans Act
21
of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
22
(4)
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
23
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
24
gress’’ means—
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
3
•S 2018 IS
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of
1
the Senate;
2
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science,
3
and Transportation of the Senate;
4
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of
5
the House of Representatives; and
6
(D) the Committee on Energy and Com-
7
merce of the House of Representatives.
8
(5) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
9
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of
10
Commerce for Communications and Information.
11
(6) COMMUNITY
ANCHOR
INSTITUTION.—The
12
term ‘‘community anchor institution’’ means a pub-
13
lic school, a library, a medical or healthcare pro-
14
vider, a community college or other institution of
15
higher education, a State library agency, and any
16
other nonprofit or governmental community support
17
organization.
18
(7) COVERED HOUSEHOLD.—The term ‘‘covered
19
household’’ means a household, the taxable income
20
of which for the most recently completed taxable
21
year is not more than 150 percent of an amount
22
equal to the poverty level, as determined by using
23
criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the
24
Census.
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
4
•S 2018 IS
(8) COVERED POPULATIONS.—The term ‘‘cov-
1
ered populations’’ means—
2
(A) individuals who live in covered house-
3
holds;
4
(B) aging individuals;
5
(C) incarcerated individuals, other than in-
6
dividuals who are incarcerated in a Federal cor-
7
rectional facility;
8
(D) veterans;
9
(E) individuals with disabilities;
10
(F) individuals with a language barrier, in-
11
cluding individuals who—
12
(i) are English learners; and
13
(ii) have low levels of literacy;
14
(G) individuals who are members of a ra-
15
cial or ethnic minority group; and
16
(H) individuals who primarily reside in a
17
rural area.
18
(9) COVERED PROGRAMS.—The term ‘‘covered
19
programs’’ means the State Digital Equity Capacity
20
Grant Program established under section 4 and the
21
Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program estab-
22
lished under section 5.
23
(10) DIGITAL EQUITY.—The term ‘‘digital eq-
24
uity’’ means the condition in which individuals and
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
5
•S 2018 IS
communities have the information technology capac-
1
ity that is needed for full participation in the society
2
and economy of the United States.
3
(11) DIGITAL INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘digital
4
inclusion’’—
5
(A) means the activities that are necessary
6
to ensure that all individuals in the United
7
States have access to, and the use of, affordable
8
information and communication technologies,
9
such as—
10
(i)
reliable
fixed
and
wireless
11
broadband internet service;
12
(ii) internet-enabled devices that meet
13
the needs of the user; and
14
(iii) applications and online content
15
designed to enable and encourage self-suf-
16
ficiency, participation, and collaboration;
17
and
18
(B) includes—
19
(i) obtaining access to digital literacy
20
training;
21
(ii) the provision of quality technical
22
support; and
23
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
6
•S 2018 IS
(iii) obtaining basic awareness of
1
measures to ensure online privacy and cy-
2
bersecurity.
3
(12) DIGITAL LITERACY.—The term ‘‘digital lit-
4
eracy’’ means the skills associated with using tech-
5
nology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize,
6
create, and communicate information.
7
(13) DISABILITY.—The term ‘‘disability’’ has
8
the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
9
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
10
12102).
11
(14) ELIGIBLE
STATE.—The term ‘‘eligible
12
State’’ means—
13
(A) with respect to planning grants made
14
available under section 4(c)(3), a State with re-
15
spect to which the Assistant Secretary has ap-
16
proved an application submitted to the Assist-
17
ant Secretary under section 4(c)(3)(C); and
18
(B) with respect to capacity grants award-
19
ed under section 4(d), a State with respect to
20
which the Assistant Secretary has approved an
21
application submitted to the Assistant Secretary
22
under section 4(d)(2), including approval of the
23
State Digital Equity Plan developed by the
24
State under section 4(c).
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
7
•S 2018 IS
(15) GENDER
IDENTITY.—The term ‘‘gender
1
identity’’ has the meaning given the term in section
2
249(c) of title 18, United States Code.
3
(16) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’
4
has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of
5
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
6
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).
7
(17) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—
8
The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’—
9
(A) has the meaning given the term in sec-
10
tion 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
11
(20 U.S.C. 1001); and
12
(B) includes a postsecondary vocational in-
13
stitution.
14
(18) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term
15
‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given
16
the term in section 8101(30) of the Elementary and
17
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
18
7801(30)).
19
(19) POSTSECONDARY
VOCATIONAL
INSTITU-
20
TION.—The term ‘‘postsecondary vocational institu-
21
tion’’ has the meaning given the term in section
22
102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
23
U.S.C. 1002(c)).
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
8
•S 2018 IS
(20) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘‘rural area’’ has
1
the meaning given the term in section 601(b)(3) of
2
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
3
950bb(b)(3)).
4
(21) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN-
5
TAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term ‘‘so-
6
cially and economically disadvantaged small business
7
concern’’ has the meaning given the term in section
8
8(a)(4) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
9
637(a)(4)).
10
(22) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means—
11
(A) any State of the United States;
12
(B) the District of Columbia; and
13
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
14
(23) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the
15
meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38,
16
United States Code.
17
(24) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—
18
The term ‘‘workforce development program’’ has the
19
meaning given the term in section 3(66) of the
20
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
21
U.S.C. 3102(66)).
22
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
23
It is the sense of Congress that—
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
9
•S 2018 IS
(1) a broadband connection and digital literacy
1
are increasingly critical to how individuals—
2
(A) participate in the society, economy,
3
and civic institutions of the United States; and
4
(B) access health care and essential serv-
5
ices, obtain education, and build careers;
6
(2) digital exclusion—
7
(A) carries a high societal and economic
8
cost;
9
(B) materially harms the opportunity of an
10
individual with respect to the economic success,
11
educational achievement, positive health out-
12
comes, social inclusion, and civic engagement of
13
that individual; and
14
(C) exacerbates existing wealth and income
15
gaps, especially those experienced by covered
16
populations;
17
(3) achieving digital equity for all people of the
18
United States requires additional and sustained in-
19
vestment and research efforts;
20
(4) the Federal Government, as well as State,
21
tribal, territorial, and local governments, have made
22
social, legal, and economic obligations that nec-
23
essarily extend to how the citizens and residents of
24
those governments access and use the internet; and
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
10
•S 2018 IS
(5) achieving digital equity is a matter of social
1
and economic justice and is worth pursuing.
2
SEC. 4. STATE DIGITAL EQUITY CAPACITY GRANT PRO-
3
GRAM.
4
(a) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—
5
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary
6
shall establish in the Department of Commerce the
7
State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (re-
8
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Program’’)—
9
(A) the purpose of which is to promote the
10
achievement of digital equity, support digital in-
11
clusion activities, and build capacity for efforts
12
by States relating to the adoption of broadband
13
by residents of those States;
14
(B) through which the Assistant Secretary
15
shall make grants to States in accordance with
16
the requirements of this section; and
17
(C) which shall ensure that States have the
18
capacity to promote the achievement of digital
19
equity and support digital inclusion activities.
20
(2) CONSULTATION
WITH
OTHER
FEDERAL
21
AGENCIES; NO CONFLICT.—In establishing the Pro-
22
gram under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary
23
shall—
24
(A) consult with—
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
11
•S 2018 IS
(i) the Secretary of Agriculture;
1
(ii) the Secretary of Housing and
2
Urban Development;
3
(iii) the Secretary of Education;
4
(iv) the Secretary of Labor;
5
(v) the Secretary of Health and
6
Human Services;
7
(vi) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
8
(vii) the Secretary of the Interior;
9
(viii) the Federal Communications
10
Commission;
11
(ix) the Federal Trade Commission;
12
(x) the Director of the Institute of
13
Museum and Library Services;
14
(xi) the Administrator of the Small
15
Business Administration;
16
(xii) the Federal Co-Chair of the Ap-
17
palachian Regional Commission; and
18
(xiii) the head of any other agency
19
that the Assistant Secretary determines to
20
be appropriate; and
21
(B) ensure that the Program complements
22
and enhances, and does not conflict with, other
23
Federal broadband initiatives and programs.
24
(b) ADMINISTERING ENTITY.—
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
12
•S 2018 IS
(1) SELECTION; FUNCTION.—The governor (or
1
equivalent official) of a State that wishes to be
2
awarded a grant under this section shall, from
3
among entities that are eligible under paragraph (2),
4
select an administering entity for that State, which
5
shall—
6
(A) serve as the recipient of, and admin-
7
istering agent for, any grant awarded to the
8
State under this section;
9
(B) develop, implement, and oversee the
10
State Digital Equity Plan for the State de-
11
scribed in subsection (c);
12
(C) make subgrants to any entity described
13
in subsection (c)(1)(D) that is located in the
14
State in support of—
15
(i) the State Digital Equity Plan for
16
the State; and
17
(ii) digital inclusion activities in the
18
State generally; and
19
(D) serve as—
20
(i) an advocate for digital equity pol-
21
icy and digital inclusion activities; and
22
(ii) a repository of best practice mate-
23
rials regarding the policies and activities
24
described in clause (i).
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:31 Jun 18, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S2018.IS
S2018
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
13
•S 2018 IS
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Any of the following
1
entities may serve as the administering entity for a
2
State for the purposes of this section if the entity
3
has demonstrated a capacity to administer the Pro-
4
gram on a statewide level:
5
(A) The State, a political subdivision,
6
agency, or instrumentality of the State, an In-
7
dian tribe located in the State, an Alaska Na-
8
tive entity located in the State, or a Native Ha-
9
waiian organization located in the State.
10
(B) A foundation, corporation, institution,
11
association, or coalition that is—
12
(i) a not-for-profit entity;
13
(ii) located in the State; and
14
(iii) not a school.
15
(C) A community anchor institution, other
16
than a school, that is located in the State.
17
(D) A local educational agency that is lo-
18
cated in the State.
19
(E) An entity located in the State that car-
20
ries out a workforce dev
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]
Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov
or a qualified attorney for legal matters.