Computer and Internet Access Equity Act

To provide tax credits to low- to moderate-income individuals for certain computer and education costs, to direct the Federal Communications Commission to modify the requirements for the Lifeline program to provide increased support, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Computer and Internet Access Equity Act 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to create a comprehensive initiative that will address the need for both computer equipment or devices and broadband/internet subscriptions to create equity in marginalized communities, (2) to address the problem of ensuring that low and moderate-income school-age children, youth, and college students have access to computer technology before, during and after the pandemic, which is both a national concern and an education and equity issue, and (3) to create a $10,000 lifetime tax credit for computer costs for individuals ($20,000 for joint returns) in low and moderate-income communities. Many individuals, especially students in elementary schools, are not familiar with completing homework in a computer environment. This legislation also provides 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 organizations and accredited academic institutions with funding to provide training and technical support in the use of computers and associated technology. 3. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) A PEW Research Center study revealed that while 58 percent of 8th graders in the United States use a computer to complete homework, low and moderate-income and minority students use cellphones, public wi-fi, or are unable to do their homework. The Pew Research Center study noted that 35 percent of teens in the United States use a cell phone, and 12 percent use public wi-fi. Unfortunately, 17 percent of teens in the United States are unable to complete their homework at all, with 25 percent of Black students and students with a household income of less than $30,000 leading the digital homework gap. (2) The Southern Education Foundation reported that 15 million to 16 million K–12 public school students are caught in the digital divide, including more rural states with 40 to 50 percent of students in Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi are seriously affected. Also, the SEF reports that Black, Latinx, and Native American students make up about 55 percent of disconnected students while representing about 40 percent of total students. (3) As of March 2020, the United States Food and Nutrition Services reported that approximately 37,000,000 people are receiving SNAP benefits. Of the 37,000,000 SNAP participants, 44 percent of participants were under 18 years old and school age. (4) The United States Food and Nutrition Services also reports that 20,000,000 young people receive free lunch in the nation's schools. Also, in the United States, 72,000,000 people under 18 live in poverty. When linked to the PEW Research Center data, this data is an indicator of many millions of low and moderate-income individuals without computers and internet subscriptions during the coronavirus pandemic. (5) The Education Journal reported in 2018 that 1.2 million children are falling behind at school because they do not have access to an internet connection at home. (6) Many experts agree two issues prevent the elimination of the digital poverty divide: (A) access to devices such as computers and tablets; and (B) Internet access or internet subscriptions. (7) Pew research provided evidence of the need for digital literacy, stating in a new analysis that 59 percent of parents with lower incomes who had children in schools that were remote at the time said their children would likely face at least one of three digital obstacles. 4. Increased Lifeline support (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) Terms defined in regulations The terms defined in section 54.400 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), have the meanings given those terms in that section. (b) Regulations Not later than 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to modify the requirements for the Lifeline program set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act) to provide for the following: (1) The amount of Lifeline support that a provider of Lifeline service may receive for providing such service to each qualifying low-income consumer shall be increased by the lesser of— (A) $83.33 per month; or (B) the amount needed to make the amount of Lifeline support received by the provider equal to the cost of providing such service, except that such cost may not exceed the cost to the provider of providing an equivalent level of voice telephony service or broadband internet access service (as applicable) to a consumer who does not receive Lifeline service. (2) The percentage of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (as specified in section 54.409(a)(1) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations) at or below which a consumer’s household income must be in order for the consumer to constitute a qualifying low-income consumer on the basis of income shall be increased to 435 percent. (3) A provider of broadband internet access service shall not be required to be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 214(e) (c) Duration The modifications made by the regulations promulgated under subsection (b) shall cease to have any force or effect on the date that is 12 years after the date on which the regulations are promulgated. (d) Consumer protections (1) In general A provider of broadband internet access service that receives Lifeline support for providing such service to a qualified low-income consumer— (A) shall provide such service to the consumer at a minimum speed of 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 megabits per second for uploads, which minimum speed shall be reevaluated and, if appropriate, increased by the Commission not less frequently than once every 3 years; (B) shall provide a level of customer service to the consumer that is comparable to the customer service that the provider provides to consumers of broadband internet access service who do not receive Lifeline service; (C) shall offer such service to each qualified low-income consumer in the designated service area of the provider; and (D) (i) shall advertise the availability of such service and the charges therefore using media of general distribution throughout the designated service area of the provider to increase awareness among consumers (including non-English speaking consumers) that they may be eligible for such service; and (ii) may partner with State agencies responsible for the provision of social assistance and service programs in conducting advertising under clause (i). (2) Designated service area A State commission or the Commission, as applicable, shall establish a designated service area for a provider of broadband internet access service described in paragraph (1) for purposes of that paragraph in the same manner as the State commission or Commission establishes a designated service area for a common carrier under paragraph (5) or (6), as applicable, of section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 214(e) 5. Internet education and training grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) Community-based organization The term community-based organization 29 U.S.C. 3102 (3) Digital literacy The term digital literacy (4) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a nonprofit organization; (B) a not-for-profit social welfare organization; or (C) a community-based organization. (5) Federal Poverty Guidelines The term Federal Poverty Guidelines (6) Household The term household (7) Income The term income (8) Nonprofit organization The term nonprofit organization section 501(c)(3) (9) Not-for-profit social welfare organization The term not-for-profit social welfare organization section 501(c)(4) (b) Grants authorized Not later than 100 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a program to make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to develop and carry out an internet safety education or training program. (c) Applications An eligible entity that wishes to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Commission an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may require. (d) Use of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use grant funds to— (1) develop a program to provide internet education and training, which may address cy­ber­bul­ly­ing, online privacy, cybersecurity, and digital literacy, to individuals living in households with an income at or below 435 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for households of the applicable size; and (2) provide such education or training to such individuals through such program. (e) Reports (1) Reports to Commission Not later than 3 years after the date on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section, the eligible entity shall publish and submit to the Commission a report that— (A) describes the use of the grant by the eligible entity, including the number of individuals served by the eligible entity using grant funds; (B) describes the progress of the eligible entity toward fulfilling the objectives for which the grant was awarded; and (C) includes any additional information required by the Commission. (2) Report to Congress Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish and submit to Congress a report that— (A) summarizes the data from the reports that the Commission has received under paragraph (1); and (B) assesses the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the grant program established under this section. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 6. Credit for computer costs (a) In general Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 36C. Credit for computer costs (a) In general In the case of an eligible individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal the lesser of— (1) the amount of qualified computer costs paid or incurred by the taxpayer during such taxable year, (2) $2,000 ($4,000 in the case of a joint return), or (3) an amount equal to $10,000 ($20,000 in the case of a joint return) minus the sum of any credits allowed to the taxpayer under this section for any preceding taxable year. (b) Qualified computer costs For purposes of this section, the term qualified computer costs (c) Limitation based on adjusted gross income With respect to any taxable year, the $2,000 amount (or, in the case of a joint return, $4,000 amount) in subsection (a)(2) shall be reduced by an amount equal to 5 percent of so much of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for such taxable year as exceeds— (1) $72,000 in the case of a joint return, (2) $54,000 in the case of a head of household, and (3) $36,000 in the case of a taxpayer not described in paragraph (1) or (2). (d) Eligible individual The term eligible individual (1) any nonresident alien individual, (2) any individual with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the individual’s taxable year begins, and (3) an estate or trust. (e) Application of section This section shall only apply to qualified computer costs incurred by the taxpayer after December 31, 2020, and before January 1, 2033. . (b) Advance payment of credit (1) In general Chapter 77 Public Law 117–2 7527B. Advance payment of credit for computer costs (a) In general As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program for making advance payments of the credit allowed under section 36C (determined without regard to subsection (e) of such section), on such basis as the Secretary determines to be administratively feasible, to taxpayers determined to be eligible for advance payment of such credit. (b) Limitation (1) In general The Secretary may make payments under subsection (a) only to the extent that the total amount of such payments made to any taxpayer during the taxable year does not exceed the amount of the credit determined under subsection (a) of section 36C, as determined based on application of subsection (c) of such section using the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for the most recent taxable year for which a return has been filed during any of the preceding 3 taxable years. (2) Non-filers In the case of any taxpayer who has not filed a return during the period described in paragraph (1), such paragraph shall be applied without regard to subsection (c) of section 36C. . (2) Reconciliation of credit and advance credit Section 36C of such Code, as added by subsection (a), is amended— (A) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (B) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection: (e) Reconciliation of credit and advance credit (1) In general The amount of the credit allowed under this section for any taxable year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate amount of any advance payments of such credit under section 7527B for such taxable year. (2) Excess advance payments (A) In general If the aggregate amount of advance payments under section 7527B for the taxable year exceeds the amount of the credit allowed under this section for such taxable year (determined without regard to paragraph (1)), the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year shall be increased by the amount of such excess. (B) Return requirement If the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year is increased under this paragraph, the taxpayer shall, notwithstanding section 6012, be required to file a return with respect to the taxes imposed under this subtitle. . (c) Conforming amendments (1) Section 6211(b)(4)(A) (A) by inserting “36C,” after 36B, (B) by striking and 7527A 7527A, and 7527B (2) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (A) by inserting 36C, 36B, (B) by striking or 7527A 7527A, or 7527B (3) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 Sec. 36C. Credit for Computer Costs. . (4) The table of sections for chapter 77 of such Code is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7527A the following new item: Sec. 7527B. Advance payment of credit for computer costs. . (d) Public awareness campaign The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's delegate) shall conduct a public awareness campaign, in coordination with the Commissioner of Social Security, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the heads of other relevant Federal and State agencies, to provide information to the public (including non-English speaking populations) regarding the availability of the credit allowed under section 36C (e) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to costs incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.

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.