This bill would create the Foundation for Digital Opportunity, a nonprofit corporation to promote digital inclusion and digital literacy. A five-member Committee would set up the Foundation and appoint initial board members. The Foundation would be governed by a Board made up of nonvoting federal ex officio members (including the Secretary of Commerce, the NTIA head, and the FCC Chair) and at least 15 appointed voting members from academia, industry, nonprofits, community practitioners, state/local/Tribal governments, anchor institutions, and philanthropy. The Foundation must seek tax-exempt status, may raise and accept private funds, and may create for-profit subsidiaries (including an impact investment fund) to support its mission. Its activities may include awarding grants for local digital literacy and adoption projects, running studies and competitions, supporting training, convening stakeholders, developing evaluation methods, and supporting Tribal broadband grants when appropriations are insufficient. The Foundation must produce a strategic plan and recurring public reports, undergo audits, and be evaluated by the Government Accountability Office every five years. The bill authorizes unspecified appropriations for the Committee (FY2027), the Foundation (FY2028), and ongoing administrative costs (FY2029 and after).
If this bill becomes law, a new nonprofit would be created to support projects that help people get online, learn digital skills (including AI literacy), and access internet-enabled services like telehealth and remote learning. Local groups, colleges, libraries, Tribal governments, and nonprofits could apply for grants. The Foundation could also partner with existing federal programs and may use private and investment funds to support projects. Federal employees would not be administratively controlled by the Foundation.
The bill authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" rather than specific dollar amounts. It authorizes funding for: establishing the Committee in fiscal year 2027; carrying out Foundation activities in fiscal year 2028; and administrative and operational costs in fiscal year 2029 and each year after. The Foundation may accept private donations and create for-profit subsidiaries to attract investment. The Foundation may transfer funds to the Department of Commerce subject to federal limits. No specific cost estimates or appropriation amounts are provided in the bill text.
The bill states the Foundation's mission is to supplement (not replace) the work of NTIA and the FCC by raising, leveraging, or matching funding from philanthropic, private, state, and local sources; increasing broadband adoption; promoting digital literacy and AI literacy; supporting workforce readiness and entrepreneurship; collaborating with Tribal, state, local, and minority-serving institutions; publicizing evidence-based programs; and supporting federal broadband programs, including Tribal and BEAD programs.
No publicly available information.