[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7943 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7943
To establish within the Federal Communications Commission the
Communications Equity and Diversity Council, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 16, 2026
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Barragan, and Mr. Carter of
Louisiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish within the Federal Communications Commission the
Communications Equity and Diversity Council, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Communications Equity and Diversity
Council Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNICATIONS EQUITY AND DIVERSITY COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Commission an
advisory committee to be known as the Communications Equity and
Diversity Council.
(b) Duties.--The duties of the Council shall be the following:
(1) To make recommendations to the Commission, including
with respect to--
(A) advancing equity with respect to the provision
of and access to communication services, without
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, or disability;
(B) assisting historically underserved individuals
to benefit from communication services and
opportunities made possible by such services;
(C) accelerating the deployment to all communities
of affordable and reliable communication services by
reducing or removing regulatory barriers to
infrastructure and investment;
(D) accelerating the entry of small businesses,
including those owned by historically underserved
individuals, into industries relating to communication
services; and
(E) promoting, with respect to communication
services, a diversity of voices, localism, economic
competition, technological advancement, and the public
interest, convenience, and necessity.
(2) To provide a forum for stakeholders with respect to
communication services, including with respect to the issues
of--
(A) deployment;
(B) affordability;
(C) digital discrimination;
(D) access to capital;
(E) small business mentoring;
(F) employment upskilling;
(G) ownership diversity; and
(H) procurement opportunities.
(3) To develop data and examine industry trends and
practices for purposes of carrying out each duty described in
this subsection.
(4) To carry out other tasks as determined appropriate by
the Commission.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Council shall be composed
of not fewer than 30 and not more than 35 members, each of whom
shall be appointed by the Chair of the Commission.
(2) Term.--Each member of the Council shall serve for a 2-
year term.
(3) Representation.--The members of the Council shall--
(A) be appointed in a manner that ensures the
Council has the expertise and balance of viewpoints
necessary to carry out the duties of the Council; and
(B) include representatives of--
(i) historically underserved individuals;
(ii) consumers;
(iii) civil rights organizations; and
(iv) industry stakeholders with respect to
communication services.
(4) Designated federal officer.--
(A) Appointment.--The Chair of the Commission shall
appoint an employee of the Commission as the Designated
Federal Officer for purposes of the Council.
(B) Duties.--The Designated Federal Officer
appointed under subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) call or approve each meeting of the
Council;
(ii) prepare and approve each meeting
agenda;
(iii) attend each meeting of the Council;
(iv) adjourn each meeting of the Council
once the Designated Federal Officer determines
adjournment is in the public interest; and
(v) chair each meeting of the Council when
directed to do so by the Chair of the
Commission.
(5) Vacancies.--The Chair of the Commission shall fill any
vacancy of the Council within 60 days from the date an
appointment of the Council becomes vacant.
(d) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall meet not fewer than 3
times each year.
(2) Open meeting requirements.--Each meeting of the Council
shall--
(A) be open to the public; and
(B) result in a deliverable, accessible to the
public, including--
(i) any recommendation made to the Council;
(ii) a summary of the meeting;
(iii) meeting minutes; and
(iv) a presentation of any topic discussed.
(3) Notice.--Timely notice of each meeting of the Council
shall be published in the Federal Register.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $450,000 for fiscal year 2027.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Communications
Equity and Diversity Council established under subsection (a).
(3) Communication service.--The term ``communication
service'' means communication services subject to the
jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission.
(4) Historically underserved individual.--The term
``historically underserved individual'' means each of the
following:
(A) An individual of color.
(B) A woman.
(C) An individual who resides in a rural area.
(D) A veteran.
(E) An individual with a disability.
(F) An individual adversely affected by persistent
poverty or inequality.
(5) Rural.--The term ``rural'' has the meaning given such
term in section 54.600 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations
(or any successor regulation).
<all>