I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3413 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2009 Mrs. Capito (for herself and Mr. Space) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To authorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce to make grants for the establishment of information technology centers in rural areas.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rural Information Technology Investment Act.

2.

Grants for rural information technology centers

Part C of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act is amended by inserting after section 158 (47 U.S.C. 942) the following new section:

159.

Grants for rural information technology centers

(a)

Authorization

The NTIA shall make grants to eligible entities, and determine (subject to subsection (e)) the amount of such grants, for the establishment of information technology centers in rural areas. (b)

Eligible entities

Eligible entities may be— (1)any small business or not-for-profit organization or business operating in a rural area, as determined by the NTIA; and (2)any State, local, or tribal government serving such an area. (c)

Application

(1)

In general

To receive a grant under this Act, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the NTIA in such time and manner, and having such content, as the NTIA may by rule require. (2)

Matching required

An eligible entity shall include in the application an assurance that the entity will provide, from State, local, or tribal government sources, an amount equal to not less than 15 percent of the grant amount in order to carry out the establishment of the information technology center under the grant. (d)

Priority

In making grants under this Act, the NTIA shall— (1)give priority to eligible entities that— (A)promote information technology research and development at any institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) serving a rural area; (B)are located in a county with an unemployment rate, as determined on the basis the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of at least 1.1 times the national unemployment rate for the period to which such data relate; (C)are certified by the Small Business Administration as qualified HUBZone small businesses; or (D)work in conjunction with a local Workforce Investment Board (established pursuant to section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832)); and (2)take into consideration— (A)the comprehensive nationwide inventory map of existing broadband service capability and availability in the United States developed and maintained pursuant to section 6001(l) of division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (PL 111–5; 123 Stat. 516) or any other applicable data administered by a State, local, or tribal agency; and (B)the availability of service capabilities in the area for which the eligible entity is applying for with reference to such map, and the speed of Internet service, and other relevant factors. (e)

Determination of amounts

In determining the amount of each grant awarded for a fiscal year under this section, the NTIA shall specify a minimum amount and such amount may be renewed for up to one year upon a finding by the NTIA that the grant recipient has satisfied subsection (f). (f)

Audits

Each grant recipient under this section shall undergo an audit administered by the NTIA. The NTIA shall report findings of the audits to Congress on an annual basis. (g)

Authorization of Appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012 to carry out this section. (h)

Definitions

As used in this section— (1)the term information technology means the use of hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data, and video by means of a computer or data network or networks; (2)the term information technology center means a for-profit or not-for-profit business venture that offers information technology services including application maintenance and support, application development, help desk services, personal computer maintenance and support, network management, data center management, database management, server management, or web hosting, and is designed to expand high tech job opportunities in rural areas; and (3)the term rural area means the terms ‘rural' and ‘rural area' mean any area other than— (A)a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; and (B)the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town.

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