Computers in Our Community Act

Summary: (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary), acting through the Assistant Secretary, to make grants to participating SEAs for allocation among local educational agencies (LEAs). Allows such funds to be used for: (1) purchase of computers that meet a minimum standard as determined by the Secretary; (2) the electrical wiring that schools may require to connect computers to each other and to the Internet; and (3) hiring technological assistants to ensure that each school has access to a trained computer professional to provide technology training for teachers and perform maintenance of computer systems. Allows the use of such funds to pay a maximum of one technological assistant per: (1) five elementary schools; (2) three middle schools; and (3) two high schools.
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, to award competitive grants to the following entities for the following programs: (1) nonprofit organizations, to establish job training programs for preparing low-income individuals for computer and technology related jobs (digital divide workforce training initiative); (2) community centers and libraries, to provide greater access to, instruction on, and assistance with computers and the Internet (technology access); (3) institutions of higher education (IHEs) that create successful partnerships between their education and computer departments to create software or Internet applications to train teachers in using computers, and using computers to teach students or to use in the classroom to teach students (computer curriculum partnership). Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Education to develop a clearinghouse to make available to other schools throughout the Nation information derived from activities of IHE recipients of curriculum partnership grants.
Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 4) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the Computers in Our Communities Trust Fund. Transfers to such Fund amounts equivalent to certain taxes on communications. Makes amounts in such fund available for appropriations to carry out the Computers in Our Communities Program.
(Sec. 5) Reduces an excise tax on telephone and other communications services.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Computers in Our Community Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) There is a growing gap, commonly referred to as the 
        digital divide, between individuals who have access to 
        computers and the Internet and individuals who do not have such 
        access.
            (2) Households with incomes of $75,000 or greater are more 
        than 20 times more likely to have access to the Internet, and 
        more than 9 times more likely to have a computer at home, than 
        households with the lowest income levels.
            (3) Although 58.9 percent of Americans earning over $75,000 
        annually frequently use the Internet, only 16 percent of 
        Americans earning between $5,000 and $10,000 annually use the 
        Internet.
            (4) Black and Hispanic households are \2/5\ as likely to 
        have home Internet access as white households.
            (5) The digital divide is an emergency that will 
        detrimentally affect the economy and society of the Nation 
        absent immediate corrective action.
            (6) The e-rate program of the Federal Communications 
        Commission ensures that schools and libraries receive 
        telecommunications services at a discounted rate. Although 
        tremendously successful, this program is insufficient because 
        there is twice the demand for funding as there is funding 
        available.
            (7) According to statistics by the Department of Education, 
        there is a dire need for additional computers in some schools. 
        Schools with the highest concentrations of poverty had an 
        average of 16 students per instructional computer with Internet 
        access, compared to 7 students for each such computer in 
        schools with the lowest concentrations of poverty.
            (8) The computer industry is the fastest growing industry 
        in our country. There is a documented shortage of information 
        technology workers. Increasingly, workers in all fields of 
        employment will need to be computer literate. Ensuring that 
        classrooms have computers that are used effectively to teach 
        students will help meet this need.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION 
              ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION ACT.

    The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating part C as part D; and
            (2) by inserting after part B the following new part:

              ``PART C--COMPUTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM

``SEC. 131. PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of this part to establish programs to advance 
the computer skills of American workers in the global economy and to 
use computer technology to advance the general educational performance 
of American students.

``SEC. 132. STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--From 85 percent of the amount made 
available under section 137 for any fiscal year, the Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary, shall make grants to each 
participating State educational agency for allocation among local 
educational agencies in such State.
    ``(b) Allocation of Funds.--
            ``(1) State allocations.--The Secretary shall allocate to 
        each participating State educational agency an amount that 
        bears the same ratio to such 85 percent of the amount made 
        available under section 137 for a fiscal year as the total 
        amount allocated to such State educational agency under title I 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for such 
        fiscal year bears to the total amount allocated to all such 
        participating State educational agencies under such title I for 
        such fiscal year.
            ``(2) Local allocations.--Each participating State 
        educational agency shall allocate to each participating local 
        educational agency an amount that bears the same ratio to the 
        amount allocated to such State for a fiscal year as the total 
        amount allocated to such local educational agency under title I 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for such 
        fiscal year bears to the total amount allocated to all such 
        participating local educational agencies in such State under 
        such title I for such fiscal year.
    ``(c) Eligibility.--
            ``(1) Participating state educational agencies.--In order 
        to qualify as a participating State educational agency for 
        purposes of this section, a State educational agency shall 
        create or modify and submit to the Secretary a technology plan 
        that--
                    ``(A) identifies the current ratio of students to 
                computers in each school district in the State, and 
                specifies the Internet connectivity of the computer 
                systems in such districts; and
                    ``(B) complies with such other criteria as the 
                Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of 
                Education, shall prescribe to assure that the funds 
                provided under this section are being used properly in 
                schools to advance the use of technology to effectively 
                teach students computer skills and improve the general 
                educational performance of students.
            ``(2) Participating local educational agencies.--In order 
        to qualify as a participating local educational agency for 
        purposes of this section, a local educational agency shall 
        create or modify and submit to the State educational agency a 
        technology plan that proves such local educational agency is 
        meeting the goals of the technology plan of the State 
        educational agency.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--Funds provided under this section may be used 
for the following:
            ``(1) The purchase of computers that meet a minimum 
        standard as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(2) The electrical wiring that schools may require to 
        connect computers to each other and to the Internet.
            ``(3) Hiring technological assistants to ensure that each 
        school has access to a trained computer professional to provide 
        technology training for teachers and perform maintenance of 
        computer systems. A maximum of 1 technological assistant per 5 
        elementary schools, 1 technological assistant per 3 middle 
        schools, and 1 technological assistant per 2 high schools may 
        be paid for with such funds.

``SEC. 133. DIGITAL DIVIDE WORKFORCE TRAINING INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--From 5 percent of the amount made 
available under section 137 for any fiscal year, the Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary, shall carry out a program to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to nonprofit organizations for the 
establishment of job training programs for preparing individuals for 
computer and technology related jobs.
    ``(b) Criteria.--The Secretary, after consultation with the 
Secretary of Labor, shall establish the criteria for administering the 
grants under this section, which shall include the following:
            ``(1) Grants under this section shall be for 2 years.
            ``(2) Grant applicants shall serve low income individuals, 
        as such term is defined in section 101 of the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801).
            ``(3) Grant applicants may submit an application under this 
        section only after consulting with the appropriate local 
        workforce investment board under such Act, and obtaining a 
        favorable recommendation of the application by such board.
    ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications that--
            ``(1) are submitted by nonprofit organizations that have 
        experience in providing technological training;
            ``(2) propose job training programs that will serve 
        individuals most in need of computer and technology training, 
        as determined by the Secretary; and
            ``(3) provide flexibility in training in order to 
        accommodate a greater number of individuals.
    ``(d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an 
applicant shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary, in 
conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, may reasonably prescribe. Each 
such application shall provide a system for tracking the employment 
success of individuals who attend any proposed job training program.
    ``(e) Follow-up.--The Secretary shall review the success of the 
program under this section and submit a report to Congress thereon not 
later than 2 years after amounts are first available for implementation 
of the program.

``SEC. 134. COMMUNITY CENTERS AND LIBRARIES TECHNOLOGY ACCESS GRANTS.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--From 5 percent of the amount made 
available under section 137 for any fiscal year, the Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary, shall carry out a program to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to provide assistance to community 
centers and libraries to provide greater access to, instruction on, and 
assistance with computers and the Internet.
    ``(b) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish the criteria for 
administering the grants under this section, which shall include the 
following:
            ``(1) Any entity requesting funds under this section shall 
        provide such assurances as the Secretary may require to 
        demonstrate that the entity will provide, from other sources 
        (which may include contributions from State or local 
        government), an equal amount of funds for carrying out the 
        purposes of the grant.
            ``(2) Eligible recipients of grants under this section 
        shall be community centers that receive Federal, State, or 
        local government funding, public libraries, and nonprofit 
        organizations working in conjunction with such centers and 
        libraries.
            ``(3) Each recipient of grant funds under this section 
        shall use such funds to establish a program for providing 
        greater access to, instruction on, and assistance with 
        computers and the Internet.
            ``(4) Grants under this section shall be for 3 years.
    ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications that demonstrate that the 
program for which funds are sought--
            ``(1) will be able to sustain funding in the absence of 
        Federal funding; and
            ``(2) will serve areas with a low rate of access to 
        computers and the Internet.
    ``(d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an 
applicant shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably prescribe. Each such application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the proposed program, including how 
        the program would will make technology available to areas with 
        a low rate of access to computers and the Internet;
            ``(2) a demonstration of the need for computers and access 
        to the Internet in the area to be served; and
            ``(3) a description of the type technology that will be 
        provided.

``SEC. 135. COMPUTER CURRICULUM PARTNERSHIP.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--From 5 percent of the amount made 
available under section 137 for any fiscal year, the Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary, shall carry out a program to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education 
that create successful partnerships between their education and 
computer departments to create software or Internet applications--
            ``(1) to train teachers in using computers, and using 
        computers to teach students; or
            ``(2) to use in the classroom to teach students.
    ``(b) Criteria.--The Secretary, after consultation with the 
Secretary of Education, shall establish the criteria for administering 
the grants under this section. Such criteria shall include priorities 
for awarding funds under this section--
            ``(1) based on the need of the schools being served and 
        their educational priorities; and
            ``(2) giving preference to those applicants that will 
        operate their programs in conjunction with local educational 
        agencies.
    ``(c) Clearinghouse.--The Secretary shall, in conjunction with the 
Secretary of Education, develop a clearinghouse to make available 
information derived from the activities of recipients of funds under 
this section to other schools throughout the United States.
    ``(d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an 
applicant shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary, in 
conjunction with the Secretary of Education, may reasonably prescribe. 
Each application shall include a description of the format of the 
software or Internet applications to be created.

``SEC. 136. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    ``Of amounts available to carry out a program to award grants under 
each of sections 133, 134, and 135, the Secretary may not use more than 
1 percent to pay administration costs under that section.

``SEC. 137. REGULATIONS.

    ``The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary 
to carry out this part.

``SEC. 138. APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
for any fiscal year an amount not to exceed the amount deposited to the 
Computers in Our Communities Trust Fund for such fiscal year pursuant 
to section 9511 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

``SEC. 139. DEFINITIONS.

    ``As used in this part--
            ``(1) the terms `State educational agency' and `local 
        educational agency' have the meanings provided such terms in 
        section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965; and
            ``(2) the term `institution of higher education' has the 
        meaning provided such term in section 102 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965.''.

SEC. 4. COMPUTERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TRUST FUND.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 9510 the following:

``SEC. 9511. COMPUTERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TRUST FUND.

    ``(a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury 
of the United States a trust fund to be known as the `Computers in Our 
Communities Trust Fund', consisting of such amounts as may be 
appropriated or credited pursuant to this section or section 9602(b).
    ``(b) Transfer to Computers in Our Communities Trust Fund Amounts 
Equivalent to Certain Taxes.--There are hereby appropriated to the 
Computers in Our Communities Trust Fund amounts equivalent to 100 
percent of the taxes received in the Treasury after September 30, 2000, 
under section 4251 (relating to tax on communications).
    ``(c) Expenditures From Computers in Our Communities Trust Fund.--
Amounts in the Computers in Our Communities Trust Fund shall be 
available for making appropriations to carry out the provisions of part 
C of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
Organization Act.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subchapter 
A is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 9511. Computers in Our Communities 
                                        Trust Fund.''

SEC. 5. REDUCTION OF EXCISE TAX ON TELEPHONE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 
              SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Section 4251(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) Applicable percentage.--The term `applicable 
        percentage' means 1 percent.''
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to amounts paid pursuant to bills first rendered after September 
30, 2000.