[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 9 (Friday, January 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1148-S1153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLEN (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Hollings, 
        and Mr. Miller):
  S. 196. A bill to establish a digital and wireless network technology 
program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, today I rise with my colleagues--Senators 
McCain, Stevens, Hollings and Miller to introduce the Digital & 
Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003.
  Access to the Internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. 
Because of the rapid advancement and growing dependence on technology, 
being digitally connected becomes more essential to economic and 
educational advancement. 60 percent of all jobs require information 
technology skills and jobs in information technology pay significantly 
higher salaries than jobs in non-information technology fields. People 
who lack access to information technology tools are at an increasing 
disadvantage. Consequently, it is important that all institutions of 
higher education provide their students with access to the most current 
information technology and digital equipment.
  As Governor of Virginia, I implemented a technology plan that created 
a blueprint of technology resources throughout the Virginia Community 
College System, VCCS. All 38 community college campuses are wired and 
each community college has a dedicated Commonwealth Classroom for 
compressed video distance education classes. Arrangements with Old 
Dominion University, Christopher Newport University, Virginia Tech and 
other institutions are offering senior level courses through distance 
education that actually take place on the community college campus.
  Minority Serving Institutions, however, still lack basic information 
and digital technology infrastructure. A study completed by the 
Department of Commerce and the National Association for Equal 
Opportunity in Higher Education showed that most Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities do not have high-speed Internet access, and 
only 3 percent of these colleges and universities indicated that 
financial aid was available to help their students close the computer 
ownership gap, the digital divide.
  The Digital & Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003 seeks 
to address the technology gap that exists at many Minority Serving 
Institutions, MSIs. Our legislation establishes a new grant program 
within the National Science Foundation, NSF, that provides up to $250 
million to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges bridge the digital divide.
  The legislation allows eligible institutions the opportunity through 
grants, contracts or cooperative agreements to acquire equipment, 
instrumentation, networking capability,

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hardware and software, digital network technology and wireless 
technology/infrastructure, such as wireless fidelity or WiFi, to 
develop and provide educational services. Additionally, the grants 
could be used for such activities as equipment upgrades, technology 
training and hardware/software acquisition. A Minority Serving 
Institution also could use the funds to offer its students universal 
access to campus networks, dramatically increase their connectivity 
rates, or make necessary infrastructure improvements.
  Virginia has five Historically Black Colleges and Universities: 
Hampton University, Norfolk State University, St. Paul's College, 
Virginia Union University and Virginia State University.
  The best jobs in the future will go to those who are the best 
prepared. However, I am increasingly concerned that when it comes to 
high technology jobs which pay higher wages this country runs the risk 
of economically limiting many college students in our society. It is 
important for ALL Americans that we close this opportunity gap. Since 
my election to the Senate, my goal has always been to continue the work 
that I began as Governor, to look for ways to improve education, create 
jobs and seek out new opportunities to benefit Virginia and its 
citizens. By improving technology-education programs, we can accomplish 
all three for students throughout our nation.
  I want to thank my colleagues for joining me today cosponsoring this 
legislation and look forward to working with fellow Senators to push 
this important measure across the goal-line so that many more college 
students are provided access to better technology and education, and 
most importantly, even greater opportunities in life.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  Mr. McCAIN. During this era of economic slowdown and global threat, 
it is imperative that our Nation's institutions of higher education are 
prepared to produce a technologically advanced workforce. Rita Colwell, 
Director of the National Science Foundation, NSF, stated in a recent 
letter to new Members of Congress that ``. . . American science and 
technology is failing to tap a vast pool of talent among our women and 
ethnic minorities.''
  As the demographics of the Nation become more and more diverse, 
minority institutions of higher education take on an even greater 
importance. It is estimated that in 10 years, minorities will comprise 
40 percent of the college-age Americans, the pool from which the 
Nation's future engineers and scientists will emerge. Therefore, to tap 
this underutilized pool of future engineers and scientists, it is 
essential to provide assistance to these minority institutions. The 
hundreds of minority-serving institutions, MSI, which include 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-serving 
institutions, and tribal colleges and universities, should be provided 
with the resources to ensure that we are indeed utilizing their large 
student populations.
  I am pleased to join Senator Allen and the other sponsors in 
introducing the Digital and Wireless Network Technology Act of 2003. 
This legislation would create an office at the NSF to draw upon its 
resources to strengthen the ability of MSIs to provide instructions in 
digital and wireless network technologies.
  The legislation is not the result of any special interest groups or 
highly financial lobbying efforts. It is based upon data provided by 80 
of the 118 HBCUs in a study, entitled ``HBCU Technology Assessment 
Study,'' funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and conducted by a 
national black college association and minority business. The study 
assessed the computing resources, networking, and connectivity of HBCUs 
and other institutions that provide educational services to 
predominately African-American populations.
  The study concluded that ``during this era of continuous innovation 
and change, continual upgrading of networking and connectivity systems 
is critical if HBCUs are to continue to cross the digital divide and 
not fall victim to it. Failure to do this may result in what is a 
manageable digital divide today, evolving into an unmanageable digital 
gulf tomorrow.'' I believe there is reason to conclude that the 
findings from the study also would apply to Hispanic-serving 
institutions, and tribal colleges and universities.
  This bill would build upon the work of Senator Cleland and many 
others during the last Congress. In testimony before the Commerce 
Committee last year, the president of the United Negro College Fund, 
Congressman William Gray, stated that we can ill afford to promote 
college graduates who enter the workforce without mastering the basic 
computer skills and understanding how information technology applies to 
their work or profession.
  I feel it is imperative that we do all we can to improve the quality 
of education for students at our minority serving institutions. These 
institutions will continue to play an important role in providing the 
Nation with a well-educated and talented workforce.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 196

       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 ``Digital and Wireless Network 
     Technology Program Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.

       (a) In General.--There is established within the National 
     Science Foundation an Office of Digital and Wireless Network 
     Technology to carry out the provisions of this Act.
       (b) Purpose.--The Office shall--
       (1) strengthen the ability of eligible institutions to 
     provide capacity for instruction in digital and wireless 
     network technologies by providing grants to, or executing 
     contracts or cooperative agreements with, those institutions 
     to provide such instruction; and
       (2) strengthen the national digital and wireless 
     infrastructure by increasing national investment in 
     telecommunications and technology infrastructure at eligible 
     institutions.

     SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.

       An eligible institution shall use a grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement awarded under this Act--
       (1) to acquire the equipment, instrumentation, networking 
     capability, hardware and software, digital network 
     technology, wireless technology, and infrastructure;
       (2) to develop and provide educational services, including 
     faculty development, to prepare students or faculty seeking a 
     degree or certificate that is approved by the State, or a 
     regional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of 
     Education;
       (3) to provide teacher education, 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 technology in the classroom 
     or instructional process;
       (4) to implement joint projects and consortia to provide 
     education regarding technology in the classroom with a State 
     or State education agency, local education agency, community-
     based organization, national non-profit organization, or 
     business, including minority businesses;
       (5) to provide leadership development to administrators, 
     board members, and faculty of eligible institutions with 
     institutional responsibility for technology education;
       (6) to provide capacity-building technical assistance to 
     eligible institutions through technical assistance workshops, 
     distance learning, new technologies, and other technological 
     applications; and
       (7) to foster the use of information communications 
     technology to increase scientific, mathematical, engineering, 
     and technology instruction and research.

     SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURE.

       (a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a grant, 
     contract, or cooperative agreement under this Act, an 
     eligible institution shall submit an application to the 
     Director at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
     such information as the Director may reasonably require. The 
     Director, in consultation with the advisory council 
     established under subsection (b), shall establish a procedure 
     by which to accept such applications and publish an 
     announcement of such procedure, including a statement 
     regarding the availability of funds, in the Federal Register.
       (b) Advisory Council.--The Director shall establish an 
     advisory council to advise the Director on the best 
     approaches for involving eligible institutions in the 
     activities described in section 3. In selecting the members 
     of the advisory council, the Director may consult with 
     representatives of appropriate organizations, including 
     representatives of eligible institutions, to ensure that the 
     membership of the advisory council reflects participation by 
     technology and telecommunications institutions, minority 
     businesses, eligible institution communities, Federal agency 
     personnel, and other individuals who are knowledgeable about 
     eligible institutions and technology issues.

[[Page S1153]]

       (c) Data Collection.--An eligible institution that receives 
     a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under section 2 
     shall provide the Office with any relevant institutional 
     statistical or demographic data requested by the Office.
       (d) Information Dissemination.--The Director shall convene 
     an annual meeting of eligible institutions receiving grants, 
     contracts, or cooperative agreements under section 2 for the 
     purposes of--
       (1) fostering collaboration and capacity-building 
     activities among eligible institutions; and
       (2) disseminating information and ideas generated by such 
     meetings.

     SEC. 5. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.

       The Director may not award a grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement to an eligible institution under this 
     Act unless such institution agrees that, with respect to the 
     costs to be incurred by the institution in carrying out the 
     program for which the grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement was awarded, such institution will make available 
     (directly or through donations from public or private 
     entities) non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to \1/
     4\ of the amount of the grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement awarded by the Director, or $500,000, whichever is 
     the lesser amount. The Director 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.

     SEC. 6. LIMITATIONS.

       (a) In General.--An eligible institution that receives a 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this Act that 
     exceeds $2,500,000, shall not be eligible to receive another 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this Act 
     until every other eligible institution that has applied for a 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this Act has 
     received such a grant, contract, or cooperative.
       (b) Awards Administered by Eligible Institution.--Each 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under this 
     Act shall be made to, and administered by, an eligible 
     institution, even when it is awarded for the implementation 
     of a consortium or joint project.

     SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT AND EVALUATION.

       (a) Annual Report Required From Recipients.--Each 
     institution that receives a grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement under this Act shall provide an annual report to 
     the Director on its use of the grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement.
       (b) Evaluation by Director.--The Director, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Education, shall--
       (1) review the reports provided under subsection (a) each 
     year; and
       (2) evaluate the program authorized by section 3 on the 
     basis of those reports every 2 years.
       (c) Contents of Evaluation.--The Director, in the 
     evaluation, shall describe the activities undertaken by those 
     institutions and shall assess the short-range and long-range 
     impact of activities carried out under the grant, contract, 
     or cooperative agreement on the students, faculty, and staff 
     of the institutions.
       (d) Report to Congress.--The Director shall submit a report 
     to the Congress based on the evaluation. In the report, the 
     Director shall include such recommendations, including 
     recommendations concerning the continuing need for Federal 
     support of the program, as may be appropriate.

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible 
     institution'' means an institution that is--
       (A) 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;
       (B) 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));
       (C) 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));
       (D) an Alaska Native-serving institution under section 
     317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1059d(b));
       (E) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution under section 
     317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1059d(b)); or
       (F) an institution determined by the Director, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Education, to have 
     enrolled a substantial number of minority, low-income 
     students during the previous academic year who received 
     assistance under subpart I of part A of title IV of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) for 
     that year.
       (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation.
       (3) 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)).

     SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation $250,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to carry out this Act.
                                 ______