Digital Opportunity Foundation Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a new nonprofit called the Foundation for Digital Opportunity. It is not a government agency, but it will work alongside the Department of Commerce and the FCC to help more Americans get online and learn to use modern technology safely.
• The foundation focuses on 'covered populations' including seniors, low-income families, rural communities, and others who lack broadband access. It will provide grants to local communities and support digital literacy training, including skills for using artificial intelligence and protecting online privacy.
• Rather than relying only on taxpayer funding, the foundation will raise money from private companies, charities, and state and local governments. It can also create for-profit subsidiaries, including impact investment funds, to support startups and business incubators that drive economic development.
• A board of at least 15 appointed experts from academia, industry, nonprofits, tribal governments, and community organizations will govern the foundation, joined by nonvoting government officials from agencies like Commerce, the FCC, and the Treasury.
• The foundation is specifically authorized to step in and help fund tribal broadband projects if federal appropriations fall short, providing a safety net for some of the most disconnected communities in the country.