[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 32 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2231-S2232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS--THURSDAY, 
                           FEBRUARY 15, 2007

      By Mr. PRYOR:
  S. 602. A bill to develop the next generation of parental control 
technology; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PRYOR:
  S. 639. A bill to establish digital and wireless networks to advance 
online higher education opportunities for minority students; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce two 
communications bills.
  First, I am introducing the Child Safe Viewing Act, a bill to develop 
the next generation of parental control technology. Last year, 
following several hearings and forums on decency, I concluded that the 
V-Chip is not an adequate solution for parents to prevent their 
children from viewing adult content, especially in a world of 500 
channels and video streaming.
  During the 1996 Telecommunications Act debate, President Clinton 
urged inclusion of a mandatory V-Chip device, and in collaboration with 
Congress, the FCC, and the entertainment industry, the V-Chip was born. 
The V-Chip was an important beginning to control child access to adult 
material. Over a decade has passed since the 1996 Act, and the world of 
communications has changed. However, the issues that inspired the V-
Chip continue to exist today for not only television but for the 
Internet and other video streaming devices.
  The Child Safe Viewing Act is a pragmatic approach to addressing the 
pitfalls of video content not intended for kids, and it acts on current 
law. It simply directs the Federal Communications Commission to begin a 
proceeding on the requirements in Section 551 of the V-Chip law. 
Section 551 states that the Commission shall take action on alternative 
blocking technology as it is developed. This mandate is clear and the 
time has come. We must engage in this issue now to ensure that families 
have the tools to keep inappropriate and sometimes dangerous material 
out of their children's view.
  I am also introducing ED 1.0, a bill to advance online higher 
education opportunities for minorities. Last Congress, Senator Allen 
and I introduced a bill that would establish a digital and wireless 
network technology program for minority-serving institutions, and it 
was reported favorably by the Commerce Committee. Regrettably, I am 
concerned that the cost of the bill will prohibit it from moving in 
this Congress. But the needs of this Nation's minorities are not 
standing still.
  ED 1.0 would allow some of our goals to move forward now by creating 
a pilot online degree program at four minority-serving institutions. 
African-American, Hispanic, and Tribal serving colleges and 
universities in socially and economically disadvantaged areas would be 
eligible to participate in this program to help define what works in 
ensuring that minorities are obtaining higher education degrees
  With the high costs of networks and limited availability of 
resources, the program would provide a national ``lessons learned'' 
about how to develop and implement flexible degree programs in fields 
such as health or education, which are currently underserved in the 
disadvantaged community. The goals of ED 1.0 will make education a 
reality for thousands of Americans, and I hope this bill will have the 
support of my colleagues.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 602

       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 ``Child Safe Viewing Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Video programming has a direct impact on a child's 
     perception of safe and reasonable behavior.
       (2) Children imitate actions they witness on video 
     programming, including language, drug use, and sexual 
     conduct.
       (3) Studies indicate that the strong appeal of video 
     programming erodes the ability of parents to develop 
     responsible attitudes and behavior in their children.
       (4) The average American child watches 4 hours of 
     television each day.
       (5) Seventy-five percent of adults surveyed believe that 
     television content marketed toward children should be subject 
     to compulsory principles.
       (6) Ninety-nine and nine-tenths percent of all consumer 
     complaints logged by the Federal Communications Commission in 
     the first quarter of 2006 regarding radio and television 
     broadcasting were because of obscenity, indecency, and 
     profanity.
       (7) There is a compelling government interest in empowering 
     parents to limit their children's exposure to harmful 
     television content.
       (8) Section 1 of the Communications Act of 1934 requires 
     the Federal Communications Commission to promote the safety 
     of life and property through the use of wire and radio 
     communications.
       (9) In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress 
     authorized Parental Choice in Television Programming and the 
     V-Chip. Congress further directed action on alternative 
     blocking technology as new video technology advanced.

     SEC. 3. EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE PARENTAL CONTROL 
                   TECHNOLOGIES.

       (a) Rulemaking Proceeding Required.--Not later than 120 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal 
     Communications Commission shall initiate a proceeding to 
     consider measures to encourage or require the use of advanced 
     blocking technologies that are compatible with various 
     communications devices or platforms.
       (b) Content of Proceeding.--In conducting the proceeding 
     required under subsection (a), the Federal Communications 
     Commission shall consider advanced blocking technologies 
     that--
       (1) may be appropriate across a wide variety of 
     distribution platforms, including wired, wireless, and 
     Internet platforms;
       (2) may be appropriate across a wide variety of devices 
     capable of transmitting or receiving video or audio 
     programming, including television sets, DVD players, VCRs, 
     cable set top boxes, satellite receivers, and wireless 
     devices;
       (3) can filter language based upon information in closed 
     captioning;
       (4) operate independently of ratings pre-assigned by the 
     creator of such video or audio programming; and
       (5) may be effective in enhancing the ability of a parent 
     to protect his or her child from indecent or objectionable 
     programming, as determined by such parent.
       (c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``advanced 
     blocking technologies'' means technologies that can improve 
     or enhance the ability of a parent to protect his or her 
     child from any indecent or objectionable video or audio 
     programming, as determined by such parent, that is 
     transmitted through the use of wire, wireless, or radio 
     communication.
                                  ____


                                 S. 639

       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 ``ED 1.0 Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Education is a fundamental right for all Americans, 
     regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic background, or other 
     factors.

[[Page S2232]]

       (2) Minority-serving institutions historically have an 
     important role in reaching underserved populations.
       (3) Minority-serving institutions in economically 
     disadvantaged areas face particular hardships in acquiring 
     funds to sustain and expand their resources.
       (4) Low-income areas are technologically underserved.
       (5) Congress and the technological community should do all 
     that they can to find new and creative ways to bridge the 
     current technology gap.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the National Telecommunications and 
     Information Administration.
       (2) Eligible educational institution.--The term ``eligible 
     educational institution'' means an institution that is--
       (A) a historically Black college or university;
       (B) a Hispanic-serving institution as that term is 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 that 
     term is defined in section 2(a)(4) of the Tribally Controlled 
     College or University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
     1801(a)(4));
       (D) an Alaska Native-serving institution as that term is 
     defined in section 317(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(2)); or
       (E) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution as that term is 
     defined in section 317(b)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(4)).
       (3) Historically black college or university.--The term 
     ``historically Black college or university'' means a part B 
     institution as that term is defined in section 322(2) of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).

     SEC. 4. MINORITY ONLINE DEGREE PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) Pilot Program Established.--
       (1) In general.--There is established within the National 
     Telecommunications and Information Administration a pilot 
     program to develop online educational programs of study 
     within eligible educational institutions under which the 
     Administrator shall award 4 grants to eligible educational 
     institutions to assist the eligible educational institutions 
     in establishing an online curriculum for undergraduate and 
     graduate programs of study.
       (2) Grant number, duration, and amount.--
       (A) Number.--The Administrator shall award a total of 4 
     grants under this section.
       (B) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be 
     awarded for a period of 6 years.
       (C) Annual grant payment amounts.--The Administrator shall 
     make grant payments under this section in the amount of--
       (i) $1,000,000 for the first fiscal year of a grant awarded 
     under this section;
       (ii) $600,000 for each of the second through fifth such 
     fiscal years; and
       (iii) $100,000 for the sixth such fiscal year.
       (b) Priority.--
       (1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section the 
     Administrator shall give priority to an eligible educational 
     institution that, according to the most recent data available 
     (including data available from the Bureau of the Census), 
     serves a county--
       (A) in which 50 percent of the residents of the county are 
     members of a racial or ethnic minority;
       (B) in which less than 18 percent of the residents of the 
     county have obtained a baccalaureate degree or a higher 
     education;
       (C) that has an unemployment rate of 7 percent or greater;
       (D) in which 19 percent or more of the residents of the 
     county live in poverty;
       (E) that has a negative population growth rate; or
       (F) that has a median family income of $32,000.
       (2) Highest priority.--In awarding grants under this 
     section the Administrator shall give the highest priority to 
     an eligible educational institution that meets the greatest 
     number of requirements described in subparagraphs (A) through 
     (F) of paragraph (1).
       (c) Use of Funds.--
       (1) Mandatory curriculum requirement.--An eligible 
     educational institution receiving a grant under this section 
     shall use the grant funds to develop a curriculum that--
       (A) leads to a baccalaureate or graduate degree;
       (B) is focused on the needs and interests of working 
     minority students in disadvantaged areas; and
       (C) in the case of an online curriculum, strives to include 
     a mix of--
       (i) online lectures, including guest speakers;
       (ii) reference material;
       (iii) quiz and test preparation; and
       (iv) class room participation.
       (2) Permissive uses.--An eligible educational institution 
     receiving a grant under this section may use the grant 
     funds--
       (A) to assist in establishing the technical capacity of the 
     eligible educational institution to provide online or 
     distance learning; and
       (B) to develop curriculum, including pod broadcasts.
       (3) Limitation on use of funds.--Grant funds made available 
     under this section shall not be used--
       (A) for any purpose other than a purpose associated with 
     the direct costs incurred by the eligible educational 
     institution in developing the curriculum or services 
     described in paragraph (1) or (2); or
       (B) for building expenses, administrative travel budgets, 
     or other expenses that are not directly related to the costs 
     described in subparagraph (A).
       (d) Matching Not Required.--The Administrator shall not 
     require an eligible educational institution to provide 
     matching funds for a grant awarded under this section.
       (e) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than November 1 of each year, 
     the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a 
     report evaluating the progress, during the preceding fiscal 
     year, of the pilot program assisted under this section.
       (2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
     include a description of each of the programs of study 
     developed with the grant funds provided under this section, 
     including--
       (A) the date of the grant award;
       (B) statistics on the marital status, employment status, 
     and income level of students participating in a program of 
     study assisted under this section; and
       (C) the degree objectives of students participating in a 
     program of study assisted under this section.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this section--
       (A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (B) $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
     2012; and
       (C) $500,000 for fiscal year 2013.
       (2) Availability.--Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) 
     shall remain available until expended.
       (g) Limitation on Use of Other Funds.--The Administrator 
     shall carry out this section only with amounts appropriated 
     in advance specifically to carry out this section.

                          ____________________