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1 1 (August 12, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/goveeik0001 and id is 1 raw text is: S Congressional Research Service Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914 0 August 12, 2021 The Digital Equity Act of 2021 Introduction The Digital Equity Act is included in the Senate-passed version of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). Submitted as an amendment in the nature of a substitute (S.Amdt. 2137) on August 1, 2021, by Senator Charles Schumer for Senator Kyrsten Sinema, it passed by the Senate August 10, 2021. The final language of the act was not available at the time of publication. The Digital Equity Act states that access to a broadband connection and digital literacy have become increasingly necessary for individuals to participate in society, the economy, and civic institutions; access health care and essential services; obtain education; and build careers. The act cites high societal and economic costs of digital exclusion, which decreases an individual's opportunity for economic success, educational achievement, positive health outcomes, social inclusion, and civic engagement. Additionally, among other observations, the act asserts that digital exclusion exacerbates wealth and income gaps, and that reducing digital exclusion will require additional, ongoing investment and research efforts. The Digital Equity Act would establish two grant programs: the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the State Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Both programs would be administered by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, who also serves as Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In developing these programs, the Assistant Secretary would be required to consult with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Interior; the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); the Federal Trade Commission; the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission; and the head of any other agency that the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate. The act would require the Assistant Secretary to provide annual reports to Congress on the status of each program. States could appeal or challenge the amount of the grants they are awarded under both programs. Additionally, both programs are intended to supplement, not supplant, other federal or state funds intended to promote digital equity. Grant and subgrant recipients for both programs would be required to report on their activities and use of funds each year to the Assistant Secretary. Defined Terms in the Act Digital equity means the condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy of the United States. Digital inclusion means the activities that are necessary to ensure that all individuals in the United States have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies, such as reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service; internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self- sufficiency, participation, and collaboration. Further, it includes obtaining access to digital literacy training; the provision of quality technical support; and obtaining basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and cybersecurity. Digital literacy means the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information. A community anchor institution means a public school, a public or multi-family housing authority, a library, a medical or healthcare provider, a community college or other institution of higher education, a state library agency, and any other non-profit or governmental community support organization. The term covered populations means individuals who live in covered households; aging individuals; incarcerated individuals, other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility; veterans; individuals with disabilities; individuals with a language barrier (i.e., those who are English learners and have low levels of literacy), as well as individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group; and individuals who primarily reside in a rural area. A covered household means a household, the income of which for the most recently completed year is not more than 150% of an amount equal to the poverty level, as determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census. State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program The intent of the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program is to ensure that states have the capacity to promote the achievement of digital equity and support digital inclusion activities. This program would have two phases. Phase one would consist of the development of a Ittps:

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