# Plain Language Summary: Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023

This bill creates a new nonprofit foundation dedicated to closing the digital divide in America. In simple terms, it establishes an organization focused on making sure everyone—regardless of where they live or how much money they make—has access to reliable internet and the technology skills they need to participate in today's world.

The foundation would work to identify communities that are being left behind when it comes to internet access and digital literacy. This includes rural areas where broadband internet might be unavailable or too expensive, low-income neighborhoods in cities, and populations that have historically faced barriers to technology. The foundation would then develop and support programs to get these communities connected and teach people how to use digital tools effectively. This could mean funding projects that bring internet infrastructure to underserved areas, providing computers or devices to families who can't afford them, or offering training programs to help people develop job-ready tech skills.

Who this affects most directly includes families living in rural or remote areas struggling to get decent internet, low-income households that can't afford broadband or devices, seniors who feel left behind by technology, and communities of color that have experienced historical inequities in access to resources. Indirectly, it could benefit the entire economy by creating a more digitally skilled workforce and reducing the gap between those with tech access and those without. The foundation would essentially act as a bridge, identifying gaps in digital access and funding solutions to fill them, making sure that having a good internet connection and digital skills isn't a luxury reserved for wealthy areas.

Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023

Luján, Ben Ray

Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023 This bill sets out a process for establishing a foundation 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 awarding grants and establishing for-profit subsidiaries to stimulate economic development and attract investment partners. Specifically, the bill creates a temporary committee with members appointed by the Department of Commerce and other federal departments and agencies to set up the foundation and appoint the initial voting members of its board of directors. Within 90 days of the establishment of the foundation, the board must convene an advisory committee to annually report on and make recommendations concerning the foundation's activities. Additionally, within one year of the bill's enactment (and with input of the advisory committee), the foundation must provide Congress with a strategic plan for its activities during the two-year period following the submission of the plan. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must evaluate the foundation's activities every five years, and the foundation must provide Commerce and GAO with annual audits.