Computer and Internet Access Equity Act
Latest action · Mar 29, 2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 26, 2021
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Computer and Internet Access Equity Act
This bill increases broadband service support for low-income consumers, establishes a grant program to provide internet safety education or training, and provides a tax credit for certain computer and education costs.
Specifically, the bill modifies the broadband service support program known as Lifeline, which assists low-income consumers with access to telecommunications and broadband services, to (1) increase the amount of the payments that a provider of Lifeline services may receive for each low-income consumer to whom the provider supplies such services, (2) allow consumers with higher incomes to qualify for participation in the program, and (3) allow a broadband service provider to receive Lifeline support for providing such service to a low-income consumer without being designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier.
The bill also requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a grant program to develop and implement internet education and training programs for low-income individuals.
Further, the bill provides a refundable tax credit, not to exceed $2,000 ($4,000 in the case of a joint return) in a taxable year or $10,000 in a lifetime ($20,000 in the case of a joint return), for amounts paid or incurred for computers, printers, and other education-related technology. The Department of the Treasury must establish a program for making advance payments of such credit to eligible individuals.
Cosponsors 2
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Apr 14, 2021.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-DC | Eleanor Holmes Norton | Apr 14, 2021 | |
| D-FL | Theodore E. Deutch | Apr 14, 2021 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Mar 29, 2021Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
- Mar 26, 2021Introduced in House
- Mar 26, 2021Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 1023 | Computer and Internet Access Equity Act | Related bill | Mar 25, 2021 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Community life and organization
- Computer security and identity theft
- Computers and information technology
- Congressional oversight
- Consumer affairs
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Foreign language and bilingual programs
- Government information and archives
- Income tax credits
- Internet and video services
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Marketing and advertising
- Poverty and welfare assistance
- Right of privacy
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
- Telecommunication rates and fees
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Mar 26, 2021Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.