“To establish within the Federal Communications Commission the Communications Equity and Diversity Council, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the Communications Equity and Diversity Council, an advisory committee of 30 to 35 members appointed by the FCC Chair to serve two-year terms, including representatives of historically underserved individuals (i.e., individuals of color, women, rural residents, veterans, individuals with disabilities, or those affected by persistent poverty), consumers, civil rights organizations, and industry stakeholders. The Council must (1) make recommendations to the FCC on advancing equity and access to communication services, accelerating deployment and small business entry, and promoting diversity and competition; (2) provide a stakeholder forum on issues such as deployment, affordability, digital discrimination, and ownership diversity; (3) develop data on industry trends; and (4) perform other tasks as directed. The Council must meet at least three times per year in open sessions with public deliverables and Federal Register notice; the FCC Chair appoints a Designated Federal Officer to oversee meetings and fills vacancies within 60 days. This section authorizes $450,000 for FY2027.