Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2014

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 10, 2014

Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2014 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require high-speed Internet service costs to be included in public housing utility allowances for households with children who qualify for free and reduced price school lunches.

Prohibits a dwelling unit's Internet cost allowance from: (1) exceeding the lowest cost available in the area, and (2) including costs for cable or satellite television or for joint packages for Internet service together with cable or satellite television.

Conditions Internet cost allowances on the service including technology to block visual depictions that are obscene or harmful to minors.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · D–IL

Committees

Financial Services Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]

Legislative record

Actions

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Dec 10, 2014
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Dec 10, 2014
Introduced in House
Dec 10, 2014
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Dec 10, 2014 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.5834 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.5834, 113th Congress: Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2014

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5834

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-12-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5834/BILLS-113hr5834ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5834 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5834 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.5834, 113th Congress: Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2014

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5834

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-12-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5834/BILLS-113hr5834ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5834 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5834 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.5834, 113th Congress: Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2014

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5834

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-12-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5834/BILLS-113hr5834ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5834 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5834 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5834, 113th Congress: Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2014

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5834

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2014-12-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr5834/BILLS-113hr5834ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:37:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5834 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.