# 119-hr-7943: Communications Equity and Diversity Council Act

119-hr-7943, Communications Equity and Diversity Council Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7943
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7943
- Congress: 119
- Title: Communications Equity and Diversity Council Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates a Communications Equity and Diversity Council at the Federal Communications Commission to advance equity in access and participation in communication services.** It would advise the FCC on preventing discrimination, expanding affordable and reliable services, speeding infrastructure deployment, and promoting small business and ownership diversity in communications. - Historically underserved households and consumers gain a formal advisory channel to raise issues like digital discrimination and affordability. - Small businesses, including those owned by historically underserved individuals, get a focus on entry supports such as access to capital, mentoring, procurement opportunities, and workforce upskilling. - Communities get attention to faster deployment by identifying and reducing regulatory barriers to infrastructure and investment. - The council would have 30-35 members with two-year terms, meet at least 3 times per year, and publish a public deliverable after every meeting. *Would authorize $450,000 for fiscal year 2027 to operate the council, increasing federal spending by that amount.*

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New FCC council for communications equity: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would create the Communications Equity and Diversity Council inside the FCC. The council would advise the FCC on fair access, anti‑discrimination, affordability, infrastructure, small business entry, and ownership diversity. It would have 30–35 members appointed by the FCC Chai…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-7943 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7943)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7943 (as of 2026-04-21).