1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2020”.
Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2020
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.
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 1937 (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.”