[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2703 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2703

      To require the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration of the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of the 
 feasibility of establishing a satellite-based educational network to 
          provide educational programming to African children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 21, 1993

    Mr. Fields of Texas (for himself and Mr. Markey) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To require the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration of the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of the 
 feasibility of establishing a satellite-based educational network to 
          provide educational programming to African children.

    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 ``Mickey Leland Telecommunications and 
Education Assistance to Africa Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) During his decade serving Texas and the Nation in the 
        United States House of Representatives, George T. ``Mickey'' 
        Leland led tireless efforts on behalf of the world's hungry and 
        downtrodden.
            (2) The late Congressman Leland's vision of a different 
        world transformed his determination to alleviate world hunger 
        into a passion that led to the establishment of the Select 
        Committee on Hunger in 1984.
            (3) George T. ``Mickey'' Leland provided the poor of 
        Africa, especially the children, with special compassion, 
        inspiration, and leadership at great personal risk.
            (4) Africa continues to have one of the lowest per capita 
        income rates and highest starvation rates.
            (5) Satellite technology is an important means of providing 
        quality education to children and adults in remote areas and is 
        an affordable delivery system to transmit quality programming.
            (6) A coordinated satellite delivery system for educational 
        instruction will improve the competitiveness of Africa, 
        especially among its children.
            (7) Satellite technology can provide access to the vast 
        educational resources of the world and help ensure that the 
        next generation of African children have the tools they need to 
        better their futures.

SEC. 3. STUDY REQUIRED.

    Part B of the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration Organization Act is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 136. STUDY AND REPORT ON SATELLITE-BASED EDUCATIONAL NETWORK FOR 
              AFRICAN CHILDREN.

    ``(a) Study Required.--Within 6 months following enactment of this 
section, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
shall conduct a feasibility study identifying the opportunities, 
facilities, programming and other resources necessary for establishment 
of networks using modern telecommunications technologies for the 
purpose of providing educational and other training essential to ensure 
growth and opportunities in Africa. The study shall pay particular 
attention to the educational needs of, and opportunities to address 
those needs, in rural and remote areas. In conducting such study, the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall 
identify resources and programs of governmental, nongovernmental, and 
multinational agencies that may be deployed promptly and economically. 
The study shall identify any legal, procedural, or technical 
impediments to the establishment of such a network or networks and the 
appropriate steps to remove such impediments.
    ``(b) Report Required.--The National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration shall submit to the President and the 
Congress a report on the results of the study required by subsection 
(a). The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
shall include in such report any legislative or administrative actions 
required to promote the establishment of such a network.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $285,000 to carry out this section.''.

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