Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9144 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9144

To include reasonable costs for high-speed internet service in the utility allowances for families residing in public housing, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 4, 2026

Mr. Foster (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Norton, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Lynch) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

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A BILL

To include reasonable costs for high-speed internet service in the utility allowances for families residing in public housing, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE IN PUBLIC HOUSING UTILITY ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES.

Subsection (b) of section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(14) Utility Allowance.--A utility allowance under this Act for public housing shall include costs for high-speed internet service, including the cost of renting or purchasing equipment necessary to access such service and a one-time installation fee, subject to the following limitations: ``(A) Cost.--The cost included in a utility allowance for a public housing dwelling unit pursuant to this paragraph for monthly internet service shall not-- ``(i) exceed the lowest cost available in the area of such housing for such monthly high-speed internet service; and ``(ii) include any costs for cable or satellite television service or telephone service. ``(B) Family choice.--Subparagraph (A) may not be construed to prohibit a household in public housing from subscribing to-- ``(i) a high-speed internet service the cost of which exceeds the cost described in subparagraph (A)(i); or ``(ii) any joint package for internet service together with cable or satellite television service or telephone service, or both. ``(C) Qualified families.--Costs for high-speed internet service may be included in a utility allowance only for a household that incurs such costs and includes children who qualify for free and reduced price lunch pursuant to section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758). ``(D) Protection of minors.--Costs for high-speed internet service may be included in a utility allowance for a household only if the internet service provider, upon initial provision of such service for a household, provides the household with a specific technology capable of blocking or filtering internet access to visual depictions described in section 254(h)(5)(B)(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)(5)(B)(i)) that provides a level of protection against access by minors to such depictions through the internet that is at least as great as the level of protection provided by a technology protection measure (as such term is defined in paragraph (7) of such section 254(h)) that meets the requirements for certification under such paragraph, as determined by the Secretary.''. <all>