# Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2022

This bill creates a new nonprofit organization called the Foundation for Digital Equity to help close the digital divide in America. The foundation's main job is to get more people connected to the internet and help them actually use it effectively, focusing especially on communities that have been left behind by the tech boom.

The foundation will work to raise money from private companies, charities, and local governments to fund programs that teach digital skills, provide affordable internet access, and help people understand how to stay safe online. It will partner with schools, libraries, community centers, and other local institutions to reach people who don't currently have reliable broadband or the know-how to use it. The foundation will also work with Native American tribes to improve internet access on tribal lands and support job training programs related to technology and broadband work.

The foundation will be run by a board that includes representatives from the federal government (like the Secretary of Commerce and the head of the FCC) along with appointed members from universities, nonprofits, tech companies, and community organizations. This mix of government and private sector involvement is designed to bring together different perspectives and resources. The foundation will focus on groups that historically haven't had good internet access, including low-income families, older adults, rural communities, and communities of color.

Essentially, this bill creates a new tool to tackle the problem that millions of Americans either can't afford internet service or don't know how to use it effectively. Rather than being a government agency, it's structured as an independent nonprofit so it can move more flexibly and attract private funding to supplement government efforts.

Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2022

Matsui, Doris O.

Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2022 This bill sets out a process for establishing the Foundation for Digital Equity to raise funding for, develop programs and partnerships to, and otherwise support efforts to expand access to broadband internet and promote digital literacy, inclusion, and equity. The bill authorizes the foundation to carry out a range of activities to advance its mission, such as (1) establishing for-profit subsidiaries to stimulate economic development and attract investment partners, and (2) awarding grants.