Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026”.

Subsection (b) of section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(14) Utility allowance.— A utility allowance under this Act for public housing shall include costs for high-speed internet service, including the cost of renting or purchasing equipment necessary to access such service and a one-time installation fee, subject to the following limitations:

(A) Cost.— The cost included in a utility allowance for a public housing dwelling unit pursuant to this paragraph for monthly internet service shall not—

(i) exceed the lowest cost available in the area of such housing for such monthly high-speed internet service; and

(ii) include any costs for cable or satellite television service or telephone service.

(B) Family choice.— Subparagraph (A) may not be construed to prohibit a household in public housing from subscribing to—

(i) a high-speed internet service the cost of which exceeds the cost described in subparagraph (A)(i); or

(ii) any joint package for internet service together with cable or satellite television service or telephone service, or both.

(C) Qualified families.— Costs for high-speed internet service may be included in a utility allowance only for a household that incurs such costs and includes children who qualify for free and reduced price lunch pursuant to section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758).

(D) Protection of minors.— Costs for high-speed internet service may be included in a utility allowance for a household only if the internet service provider, upon initial provision of such service for a household, provides the household with a specific technology capable of blocking or filtering internet access to visual depictions described in section 254(h)(5)(B)(i) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)(5)(B)(i)) that provides a level of protection against access by minors to such depictions through the internet that is at least as great as the level of protection provided by a technology protection measure (as such term is defined in paragraph (7) of such section 254(h)) that meets the requirements for certification under such paragraph, as determined by the Secretary.”.