[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 694 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 694

To establish a digital and wireless network technology program, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 24, 2007

Mr. Towns (for himself, Mr. Forbes, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, 
    Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Payne, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. 
  Hinojosa, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, and Mrs. Drake) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and 
 Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a digital and wireless network technology program, 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 ``Minority Serving Institution Digital 
and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended by inserting the following after subsection 
(f):
    ``(g) Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology 
Opportunity Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
        Secretary, shall establish a Minority Serving Institution 
        Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Program to assist 
        eligible institutions in acquiring, and augmenting their use 
        of, digital and wireless networking technologies to improve the 
        quality and delivery of educational services at eligible 
        institutions.
            ``(2) Authorized activities.--An eligible institution may 
        use a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract awarded under 
        this subsection--
                    ``(A) to acquire equipment, instrumentation, 
                networking capability, hardware and software, digital 
                network technology, wireless technology, and 
                infrastructure to further the objective of the Program 
                described in paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) to develop and provide training, education, 
                and professional development programs, including 
                faculty development, to increase the use of, and 
                usefulness of, digital and wireless networking 
                technology;
                    ``(C) to provide teacher education, including the 
                provision of preservice teacher training and in-service 
                professional development at eligible institutions, 
                library and media specialist training, and preschool 
                and teacher aid certification to individuals who seek 
                to acquire or enhance technology skills in order to use 
                digital and wireless networking technology in the 
                classroom or instructional process, including 
                instruction in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                technology subjects;
                    ``(D) to obtain capacity-building technical 
                assistance, including through remote technical support, 
                technical assistance workshops, and distance learning 
                services; and
                    ``(E) to foster the use of digital and wireless 
                networking technology to improve research and 
                education, including scientific, mathematics, 
                engineering, and technology instruction.
            ``(3) Application and review procedures.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this 
                subsection, an eligible institution shall submit an 
                application to the Under Secretary at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such information as the 
                Under Secretary may require. Such application, at a 
                minimum, shall include a description of how the funds 
                will be used, including a description of any digital 
                and wireless networking technology to be acquired, and 
                a description of how the institution will ensure that 
                digital and wireless networking will be made accessible 
                to, and employed by, students, faculty, and 
                administrators. The Under Secretary, consistent with 
                subparagraph (C) and in consultation with the advisory 
                council established under subparagraph (B), shall 
                establish procedures to review such applications. The 
                Under Secretary shall publish the application 
                requirements and review criteria in the Federal 
                Register, along with a statement describing the 
                availability of funds.
                    ``(B) Advisory council.--The Under Secretary shall 
                establish an advisory council to advise the Under 
                Secretary on the best approaches to encourage maximum 
                participation by eligible institutions in the program 
                established under paragraph (1), and on the procedures 
                to review proposals submitted to the program. In 
                selecting the members of the advisory council, the 
                Under Secretary shall consult with representatives of 
                appropriate organizations, including representatives of 
                eligible institutions, to ensure that the membership of 
                the advisory council includes representatives of 
                minority businesses and eligible institution 
                communities. The Under Secretary shall also consult 
                with experts in digital and wireless networking 
                technology to ensure that such expertise is represented 
                on the advisory council.
                    ``(C) Review panels.--Each application submitted 
                under this subsection by an eligible institution shall 
                be reviewed by a panel of individuals selected by the 
                Under Secretary to judge the quality and merit of the 
                proposal, including the extent to which the eligible 
                institution can effectively and successfully utilize 
                the proposed grant, cooperative agreement, or contract 
                to carry out the program described in paragraph (1). 
                The Under Secretary shall ensure that the review panels 
                include representatives of minority serving 
                institutions and others who are knowledgeable about 
                eligible institutions and technology issues. The Under 
                Secretary shall ensure that no individual assigned 
                under this subsection to review any application has a 
                conflict of interest with regard to that application. 
                The Under Secretary shall take into consideration the 
                recommendations of the review panel in determining 
                whether to award a grant, cooperative agreement, or 
                contract to an eligible institution.
                    ``(D) Information dissemination.--The Under 
                Secretary shall convene an annual meeting of eligible 
                institutions receiving grants, cooperative agreements, 
                or contracts under this subsection to foster 
                collaboration and capacity-building activities among 
                eligible institutions.
                    ``(E) Matching requirement.--The Under Secretary 
                may not award a grant, cooperative agreement, or 
                contract to an eligible institution under this 
                subsection unless such institution agrees that, with 
                respect to the costs incurred by the institution in 
                carrying out the program for which the grant, 
                cooperative agreement, or contract was awarded, such 
                institution shall make available, directly, or through 
                donations from public or private entities, non-Federal 
                contributions in an amount equal to one-quarter of the 
                grant, cooperative agreement, or contract awarded by 
                the Under Secretary, or $500,000, whichever is the 
                lesser amount. The Under Secretary shall waive the 
                matching requirement for any institution or consortium 
                with no endowment, or an endowment that has a current 
                dollar value lower than $50,000,000.
                    ``(F) Awards.--
                            ``(i) Limitation.--An eligible institution 
                        that receives a grant, cooperative agreement, 
                        or contract under this subsection that exceeds 
                        $2,500,000 shall not be eligible to receive 
                        another grant, cooperative agreement, or 
                        contract.
                            ``(ii) Consortia.--Grants, cooperative 
                        agreements, and contracts may only be awarded 
                        to eligible institutions. Eligible institutions 
                        may seek funding under this subsection for 
                        consortia which may include other eligible 
                        institutions, a State or a State education 
                        agency, local education agencies, institutions 
                        of higher education, community-based 
                        organizations, national nonprofit 
                        organizations, or businesses, including 
                        minority businesses.
                            ``(iii) Planning grants.--The Under 
                        Secretary may provide funds to develop 
                        strategic plans to implement such grants, 
                        cooperative agreements, or contracts.
                            ``(iv) Institutional diversity.--In 
                        awarding grants, cooperative agreements, and 
                        contracts to eligible institutions, the Under 
                        Secretary shall ensure, to the extent 
                        practicable, that awards are made to all types 
                        of institutions eligible for assistance under 
                        this subsection.
                            ``(v) Need.--In awarding funds under this 
                        subsection, the Under Secretary shall give 
                        priority to the institution with the greatest 
                        demonstrated need for assistance.
                    ``(G) Annual report and evaluation.--
                            ``(i) Annual report required from 
                        recipients.--Each institution that receives a 
                        grant, cooperative agreement, or contract 
                        awarded under this subsection shall provide an 
                        annual report to the Under Secretary on its use 
                        of the grant, cooperative agreement, or 
                        contract.
                            ``(ii) Independent assessment.--Not later 
                        than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
                        this subsection, the Under Secretary shall 
                        enter into a contract with the National Academy 
                        of Public Administration to conduct periodic 
                        assessments of the program. The Assessments 
                        shall be conducted once every 3 years during 
                        the 10-year period following the enactment of 
                        this subsection. The assessments shall include 
                        an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
                        program in improving the education and training 
                        of students, faculty and staff at eligible 
                        institutions that have been awarded grants, 
                        cooperative agreements, or contracts under the 
                        program; an evaluation of the effectiveness of 
                        the program in improving access to, and 
                        familiarity with, digital and wireless 
                        networking technology for students, faculty, 
                        and staff at all eligible institutions; an 
                        evaluation of the procedures established under 
                        paragraph (3)(A); and recommendations for 
                        improving the program, including 
                        recommendations concerning the continuing need 
                        for Federal support. In carrying out its 
                        assessments, the National Academy of Public 
                        Administration shall review the reports 
                        submitted to the Under Secretary under clause 
                        (i).
                            ``(iii) Report to congress.--Upon 
                        completion of each independent assessment 
                        carried out under clause (ii), the Under 
                        Secretary shall transmit the assessment to 
                        Congress along with a summary of the Under 
                        Secretary's plans, if any, to implement the 
                        recommendations of the National Academy of 
                        Public Administration.
                    ``(H) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                            ``(i) Digital and wireless networking 
                        technology.--The term `digital and wireless 
                        networking technology' means computer and 
                        communications equipment and software that 
                        facilitates the transmission of information in 
                        a digital format.
                            ``(ii) Eligible institution.--The term 
                        `eligible institution' means an institution 
                        that is--
                                    ``(I) a historically Black college 
                                or university that is a part B 
                                institution, as defined in section 
                                322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)), an 
                                institution described in section 
                                326(e)(1)(A), (B), or (C) of that Act 
                                (20 U.S.C. 1063b(e)(1)(A), (B), or 
                                (C)), or a consortium of institutions 
                                described in this subparagraph;
                                    ``(II) a Hispanic-serving 
                                institution, as defined in section 
                                502(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act 
                                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5));
                                    ``(III) a tribally controlled 
                                college or university, as defined in 
                                section 316(b)(3) of the Higher 
                                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                                1059c(b)(3));
                                    ``(IV) an Alaska Native-serving 
                                institution under section 317(b) of the 
                                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                                1059d(b));
                                    ``(V) a Native Hawaiian-serving 
                                institution under section 317(b) of the 
                                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                                1059d(b)); or
                                    ``(VI) an institution of higher 
                                education (as defined in section 365 of 
                                the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                U.S.C. 1067k)) with an enrollment of 
                                needy students (as defined in section 
                                312(d) of the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(d)).
                            ``(iii) Institution of higher education.--
                        The term `institution of higher education' has 
                        the meaning given the term in section 101 of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001).
                            ``(iv) Local educational agency.--The term 
                        `local educational agency' has the meaning 
                        given the term in section 9101 of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 7801).
                            ``(v) Minority business.--The term 
                        `minority business' includes HUBZone small 
                        business concerns (as defined in section 3(p) 
                        of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(p)).
                            ``(vi) Minority individual.--The term 
                        `minority individual' means an American Indian, 
                        Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), 
                        Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto 
                        Rican, Cuban and Central or South American 
                        origin), or Pacific Islander individual.
                            ``(vii) State.--The term `State' has the 
                        meaning given the term in section 9101 of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 7801).
                            ``(viii) State educational agency.--The 
                        term `State educational agency' has the meaning 
                        given the term in section 9101 of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 7801).''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Technology 
Administration of the Department of Commerce to carry out section 5(g) 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980--
            (1) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
        years 2009 through 2012.
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