Digital Opportunity Foundation Act of 2026

given the term in section 103 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662). (18) Startup.--The term ``startup'' has the meaning given the term ``start-up business'' in section 362(f)(5)(C) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6322(f)(5)(C)). (19) Tribal broadband connectivity program.--The term ``Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program'' means the program implemented pursuant to section 905(c) of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1305 note). (b) Committee for the Establishment of the Foundation for Digital Opportunity.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Committee for the Establishment of the Foundation for Digital Opportunity. (2) Members.--The Committee shall be composed of 5 members-- (A) who shall be appointed by the officials described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(i); (B) who may not be employed by the Federal Government while serving on the Committee; (C) each of whom shall be a voting member of the Committee; (D) not fewer than 3 of whom shall have broad and general experience in matters relating to digital inclusion or digital literacy; and (E) not less than 2 of whom shall have broad and general experience in working with private nonprofit organizations. (3) Functions.--The functions of the Committee shall be as follows: (A) To carry out such activities as may be necessary to establish a nonprofit corporation to be known as the ``Foundation for Digital Opportunity'', and to incorporate the Foundation under the laws of a State, including by-- (i) serving as the incorporators for the Foundation; and (ii) ensuring that the articles of incorporation for the Foundation require that the Foundation is operated in accordance with the requirements of this section. (B) To ensure that the Foundation qualifies for and (during the period in which the Committee is in existence) maintains the status described in subsection (c)(3). (C) To provide for the initial operation of the Foundation, including by ensuring that the Foundation has adequate facilities, equipment, and staff. (D) To appoint initial voting members of the Board who satisfy the requirements under subsection (d)(2)(C) and have such other qualifications as the Committee determines appropriate with respect to those members. (4) Chair.--The Committee shall, from among the members of the Committee, designate a member of the Committee to serve as Chair of the Committee. (5) Term.-- (A) In general.--Each member of the Committee shall serve for the duration of the Committee. (B) Vacancies.-- (i) No effect on authority.--A vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall not affect the authority of the Committee to carry out the functions of the Committee. (ii) Replacement.--If a member of the Committee does not serve for the duration of the Committee, the individual appointed to fill that vacancy shall be appointed by the ex officio members of the Board for the remainder of the applicable term. (6) Compensation.--A member of the Committee-- (A) shall not receive compensation for service on the Committee; and (B) may be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the functions of the Committee. (7) Termination.--The Committee shall-- (A) complete the functions of the committee described in paragraph (3) not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary establishes the Committee under paragraph (1); and (B) terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary determines that the Committee has completed the functions described in paragraph (3). (c) General Principles of the Foundation.-- (1) Mission.--The mission of the Foundation shall be-- (A) to supplement, but not supplant, the work of the NTIA and the Commission in promoting the benefits of technological development in the United States, and of high-capacity, affordable broadband connectivity in particular, for all users of telecommunications and information facilities; (B) to raise, leverage, or match funding from other entities, including philanthropic organizations, the private sector, and State and local governments, to promote digital opportunity and digital literacy for communities with low rates of adoption of broadband and other digital technologies; (C) to develop programs and partnerships to-- (i) increase the rates at which covered populations adopt broadband and other digital technologies; (ii) to promote digital literacy among covered populations, upskill, alleviate skills gaps, and prepare for emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence; (iii) collaborate with State, local, and Tribal governments, Minority-serving institutions, other anchor institutions, and stakeholders in the communications, education, business, technology, and health fields; (iv) publicize and incentivize the adoption of evidence-based programs; (v) convene organizations and partnerships with related goals and interests to establish problem-solving processes; (vi) strengthen and share case studies and best practices relating to the impact of digital opportunity on economic development, including with respect to workforce readiness and development, business retention, and entrepreneurship; and (vii) support the goals of-- (I) the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program; (II) the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program; (III) the Universal Service Fund under section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254); and (IV) any other federally funded program that supports the deployment and adoption of broadband; and (D) to promote equitable access to, and the adoption of, digital technologies that support accessibility, telehealth, distance learning, online access to governmental benefits and services, and economic opportunities. (2) Limitation.--The Foundation shall not be an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government or any State or local government. (3) Tax-exempt status.--The Board shall take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure that the Foundation is an organization that is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. (d) Board of Directors.-- (1) Establishment.--The Foundation shall be governed by a Board of Directors. (2) Composition.-- (A) In general.--The Board shall be composed of the ex officio members described in subparagraph (B) and the appointed voting members described in subparagraph (C). (B) Ex officio members.-- (i) Members.--The ex officio members of the Board shall be the following individuals (or designees of those individuals): (I) The Secretary. (II) The Assistant Secretary. (III) The Chairman of the Commission. (IV) The Secretary of the Treasury. (V) The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. (VI) The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. (ii) Nonvoting members.--The ex officio members of the Board shall be nonvoting members of the Board. (C) Appointed members.-- (i) In general.--The Board shall consist of not fewer than 15 members from the sectors listed in clause (ii). (ii) Representation.--The appointed members of the Board shall reflect a broad cross- section of stakeholders and shall include not fewer than 2 members from each of the following: (I) Academia. (II) Industry. (III) Nonprofit and civil rights organizations. (IV) Community-based practitioners of efforts to promote digital inclusion. (V) State, local, and Tribal governments. (VI) Community anchor institutions. (VII) The philanthropic community. (iii) Experience.--Each appointed member of the Board shall-- (I) have-- (aa) experience promoting digital opportunity and digital literacy; (bb) experience in the technology sector; (cc) experience in the telecommunications and broadband sector; (dd) direct experience working with covered populations; or (ee) research experience in foundation operations; and (II) to the extent practicable, represent diverse regions, sectors, and the communities corresponding to the covered populations that are the focus of the activities of the Foundation. (3) Chair and vice chair.-- (A) In general.--The Board shall designate, from among the appointed members of the Board-- (i) an individual to serve as Chair of the Board; and (ii) an individual to serve as Vice Chair of the Board. (B) Terms.--The term of service of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board shall end on the earlier of-- (i) the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board, as applicable, is designated for the position; and (ii) the last day of the term of service of the member, as determined under paragraph (4)(A), who is designated to be Chair or Vice Chair of the Board, as applicable. (C) Representation.--The Chair and Vice Chair of the Board-- (i) shall not be representatives of the same area of subject matter expertise, or entity, as applicable, under paragraph (2)(C)(ii); and (ii) shall not be representatives of any area of subject matter expertise, or entity, as applicable, represented by the immediately preceding Chair and Vice Chair of the Board. (4) Terms and vacancies.-- (A) Terms.-- (i) In general.--The term of service of each appointed member of the Board shall be not more than 5 years. (ii) Initial appointed members.--Of the initial members of the Board appointed under subsection (b)(3)(D), \1/2\ of the members shall serve for 4 years and \1/2\ of the members shall serve for 5 years, as determined by the Chair of the Board. (iii) Limitation.--A member may serve not more than 2 sequential terms. (B) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the appointed members of the Board-- (i) shall be filled by a majority vote of the appointed members of the Board in accordance with the bylaws of the Foundation; (ii) shall not affect the power of the remaining appointed members to execute the duties of the Board; and (iii) shall be filled by an individual selected by the Board. (5) Meetings; quorum.-- (A) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which all of the members of the Board have been appointed, the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the ex officio and appointed members of the Board to establish the bylaws of the Foundation in accordance with paragraph (7). (B) Quorum.--A majority of the appointed members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting the business of the Board. (6) Duties.--The Board shall-- (A) advise the Executive Director on the overall direction for the activities of the Foundation and establish priority activities; (B) advise the Executive Director such that the Executive Director may carry out any other necessary activities of the Foundation; (C) evaluate the performance of the Executive Director; and (D) actively solicit and accept funds, gifts, grants, devises, or bequests of real or personal property to the Foundation, including from private entities. (7) Bylaws.-- (A) In general.--The bylaws established under paragraph (5)(A) may include-- (i) policies for the selection of Board members and officers, employees, agents, and contractors of the Foundation; (ii) policies, including ethical standards, for-- (I) the acceptance, solicitation, and disposition of donations and grants to the Foundation, including appropriate limits on the ability of donors to designate, by stipulation or restriction, the use or recipient of donated funds; and (II) the disposition of assets of the Foundation; (iii) policies that subject all employees, fellows, trainees, contractors, consultants, and other agents of the Foundation (including ex officio and appointed members of the Board) to conflict of interest standards; and (iv) the specific duties of the Executive Director. (B) Requirements.--The Board shall ensure that the bylaws of the Foundation and the activities carried out under those bylaws shall not-- (i) reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Foundation to carry out activities in a fair and objective manner; or (ii) compromise, or appear to compromise, the integrity of any Federal agency or program, or any officer or employee employed by, or involved in, such an agency or program. (C) Amendments to bylaws.--The Assistant Secretary, by rule in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, may abrogate, add to, or modify the bylaws of the Foundation in a manner that the Assistant Secretary determines necessary or appropriate to-- (i) ensure the fair administration of the Foundation; (ii) conform those bylaws to other applicable rules issued by the Assistant Secretary; or (iii) otherwise further the purposes of this section. (8) Compensation.-- (A) In general.--No member of the Board shall receive compensation for serving as a member of the Board. (B) Reimbursement of certain expenses.--In accordance with the bylaws of the Foundation, members of the Board may be reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Board. (e) Activities.-- (1) Studies, competitions, and projects.--The Foundation may conduct and support studies, competitions, projects, and other activities that further the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1). (2) Grants.-- (A) In general.--The Foundation may award grants for activities relating to information technology capacity and digital literacy and digital adoption in local communities. (B) Selection.--In selecting a recipient for a grant awarded under subparagraph (A), the Foundation-- (i) shall make the selection based on the comparative merits of-- (I) the proposed project of the potential recipient; (II) the impact of the project described in subclause (I) on promoting digital literacy and digital inclusion in local communities; and (III) the alignment of the project described in subclause (I) with-- (aa) the overall goals of the Foundation relating to diversity on the basis of geography; (bb) the type of need addressed by the project; (cc) the relative cost- effectiveness of the proposed activities or methodology of the project; and (dd) other factors specified in the strategic plan and grant guidelines of the Foundation; and (ii) may consult with a potential recipient regarding the ability of the potential recipient to carry out various projects that would further the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1). (3) Accessing facilities and expertise.--The Foundation may work with the Secretary and the Commission-- (A) to leverage the capabilities and facilities of the Department and the Commission; and (B) to assist with resources, including by providing information on assets of the Department and the Commission that may enable the promotion of digital equity, digital inclusion, or digital literacy. (4) Training and education.--The Foundation may support programs that provide training to researchers, scientists, and other relevant personnel at the Department, the Commission, and institutions of higher education to help promote full digital participation in the society and economy of the United States. (5) Stakeholder engagement.--The Foundation shall annually convene and consult with representatives from the Department, the Commission, digital inclusion practitioners, institutions of higher education, the private sector, rural focused practitioners, members of Indigenous communities, civil rights advocates, consumer advocates, libraries, school systems or education technology specialists, accessibility advocates or experts, retired or older individuals, public interest stakeholders, and other relevant groups with experience addressing the access, adoption, and affordability of the broadband services to develop programs for the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1) and to advance the activities of the Foundation. (6) For-profit subsidiaries.-- (A) In general.--The Foundation may establish 1 or more for-profit subsidiaries, including an impact investment fund-- (i) to stimulate economic development activities relating to the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1); and (ii) to attract for-profit investment partners for digital inclusion and digital literacy activities. (B) Authorities of the for-profit subsidiary.--A for-profit subsidiary established under subparagraph (A) may-- (i) enter into a partnership with an economic development corporation, including a business incubator or a small business investment company; (ii) pay for the cost of building and administering a facility, including a business incubator, to support the activities of the Foundation described in this subsection; and (iii) provide funding to a startup. (7) Supplemental programs.--The Foundation may carry out supplemental programs-- (A) to conduct and support forums, meetings, conferences, courses, and training workshops consistent with the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1); (B) to support and encourage the understanding and development of-- (i) data collection that provides clarity with respect to inequities, digital skill levels, and community needs in order to promote digital equity, digital inclusion, and digital literacy; and (ii) policies that make regulation more effective and efficient by leveraging the data collection efforts described in clause (i) for the regulation of relevant technology sectors; (C) for writing, editing, printing, publishing, and selling books and other materials relating to efforts carried out by the Foundation, the Department, or the Commission; and (D) to conduct other activities to carry out and support the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1). (8) Evaluations.--The Foundation shall support the development of an evaluation methodology, to be used as part of any project or program supported by the Foundation, that shall-- (A) consist of qualitative and quantitative metrics; (B) include periodic third party evaluation of the programs and other activities of the Foundation; and (C) be made publicly available. (9) Communications.--The Foundation shall develop an expertise in communications to-- (A) disseminate awareness of funding opportunities among community-based organizations that serve covered populations; (B) promote the work of grant recipients under paragraph (2), the successes of the Foundation, opportunities for partnership with the Foundation, and other activities; and (C) leverage public awareness campaigns or other efforts by the Department or the Commission relating to the activities or opportunities promoted by the Foundation. (10) Tribal broadband connectivity grants.--The Foundation may support a grant made under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program if there are not adequate appropriations to support such a grant. (f) Administration.-- (1) Executive director.--The Board shall appoint an Executive Director of the Foundation, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. (2) Administrative control.--No member of the Board, any officer or employee of the Foundation, any officer or employee of any program established by the Foundation, or any participant in a program established by the Foundation may exercise administrative control over any Federal employee. (3) Strategic plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Foundation shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a strategic plan that contains-- (A) a description of the initial focus areas of, and primary purposes for, each program, grant, or award opportunity that the Foundation plans to implement during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the strategic plan is submitted; (B) a description of the efforts that the Foundation will take to be transparent in the processes of the Foundation, including processes relating to-- (i) grant awards, including selection, review, and notification with respect to those awards; and (ii) communication of past, current, and future priorities; (C) a description of the financial goals and benchmarks of the Foundation for the 10-year period beginning on the date on which the report is submitted; and (D) a description of the efforts undertaken by the Foundation to ensure maximum complementarity and minimum redundancy with investments made by the Secretary and the Commission. (4) Recurring report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Foundation is established, and once every 2 years thereafter, the Foundation shall make publicly available, and shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce and Energy of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary, a report that, for the period covered by the report-- (A) describes the activities of the Foundation and the progress of the Foundation in furthering the mission of the Foundation described in subsection (c)(1); (B) provides a specific accounting of the source and use of all funds made available to the Foundation to carry out the activities described in subparagraph (A) to ensure transparency in the alignment of the missions of the Department and the Commission; and (C) includes a summary of each evaluation regarding the decision to award a grant, as determined in accordance with the requirements of subsection (e)(2)(B). (5) Evaluation by comptroller general.--Not later than 5 years after the date on which the Foundation is established, and once every 5 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives-- (A) an evaluation of-- (i) the extent to which the Foundation is achieving the mission of the Foundation; and (ii) the operation of the Foundation; and (B) any recommendations regarding how the Foundation may be improved. (6) Audits.--The Foundation shall-- (A) provide for annual audits of the condition of the Foundation; and (B) make the audits, and all other records, documents, and papers of the Foundation, available to the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States for examination or audit. (7) Integrity.-- (A) In general.--To ensure integrity in the operations of the Foundation, the Board shall develop and enforce procedures relating to standards of conduct, financial disclosure statements, conflicts of interest (including recusal and waiver rules), audits, and any other matters determined appropriate by the Board. (B) Financial conflicts of interest.--An individual who is an officer, employee, or member of the Board may not participate in deliberations by the Foundation regarding a matter that would directly or predictably affect any financial interest of-- (i) the individual; (ii) a relative (as defined in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code) of that individual; or (iii) a business organization or other entity in which the individual has an interest, including an organization or other entity with which the individual is negotiating employment. (8) Intellectual property.--The Board shall adopt written standards to govern the ownership and licensing of any intellectual property rights-- (A) developed by the Foundation through activities funded by a for-profit subsidiary established under subsection (e)(6); or (B) otherwise derived from the collaborative efforts of the Foundation. (9) Liability.-- (A) In general.--The United States shall not be liable for any debt, default, act, or omission of-- (i) the Foundation; or (ii) a Federal entity with respect to an agreement of that Federal entity with the Foundation. (B) Full faith and credit.--The full faith and credit of the United States shall not extend to any obligations of the Foundation. (10) Nonapplicability of provisions relating to federal advisory committees.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Foundation. (g) Support Services.--The Secretary shall provide facilities, utilities, and support services to the Foundation if the Secretary determines that the provision of those items is advantageous to the programs of the Department. (h) Anti-Deficiency Act.--Section 1341(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Anti-Deficiency Act''), shall not apply to any Federal officer or employee carrying out any activity of the Foundation using funds of the Foundation. (i) No Preemption of Authority.--This section shall not preempt any authority or responsibility of the Secretary under any other provision of law. (j) Transfer Funds.--The Foundation may transfer funds to the Department, which shall be subject to all applicable Federal limitations relating to federally funded research. (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary-- (1) to the Secretary for fiscal year 2027 to establish the Committee; (2) to the Foundation for fiscal year 2028 to carry out the activities of the Foundation; and (3) to the Foundation for fiscal year 2029, and each fiscal year thereafter, for administrative and operational costs. <all>