Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026
Public Housing: Internet Cost Assistance for Families
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on Financial Services for review. No further actions or hearings have been scheduled yet. The bill is considered active but is not currently moving forward.
Legislative Progress
This bill was introduced by a group of Democrats and has not yet gained support from the other party. Most bills like this stay in committee and do not receive a full vote.
Key Points
- This bill would help families living in public housing pay for high-speed internet. It treats internet like water or electricity by adding it to the monthly utility allowance that helps lower their rent costs.
- To qualify, a family must have children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. This ensures the help goes to students who need the internet for schoolwork and learning.
- The government would cover the cheapest monthly internet plan available in the area. It would also pay for one-time setup fees and the cost of buying or renting a modem or router.
- The money can only be used for internet service. It cannot be used to pay for cable TV, satellite packages, or home phone lines.
- Internet companies would be required to provide tools that block or filter inappropriate content to keep children safe online.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(6)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.