H.R. 7943

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7943 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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).
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