I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2703

To require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration

of the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of the feasibility

of establishing a satellite-based educational network to provide educational programming to African children.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 21, 1993

Mr. FIELDS of Texas (for himself and Mr. MARKEY) introduced the following

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To require the National Telecommunications and Information

Administration of the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing a satellitebased educational network to provide educational programming to African children.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mickey Leland Tele5 communications and Education Assistance to Africa Act

6 of 1993’’.
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

2 The Congress finds the following:

3 (1) During his decade serving Texas and the

4 Nation in the United States House of Representa5 tives, George T. ‘‘Mickey’’ Leland led tireless efforts

6 on behalf of the world’s hungry and downtrodden.

7 (2) The late Congressman Leland’s vision of a

8 different world transformed his determination to al9 leviate world hunger into a passion that led to the

10 establishment of the Select Committee on Hunger in

11 1984.

12 (3) George T. ‘‘Mickey’’ Leland provided the

13 poor of Africa, especially the children, with special

14 compassion, inspiration, and leadership at great per15 sonal risk.

16 (4) Africa continues to have one of the lowest

17 per capita income rates and highest starvation rates.

18 (5) Satellite technology is an important means

19 of providing quality education to children and adults

20 in remote areas and is an affordable delivery system

21 to transmit quality programming.

22 (6) A coordinated satellite delivery system for

23 educational instruction will improve the competitive24 ness of Africa, especially among its children.

25 (7) Satellite technology can provide access to

26 the vast educational resources of the world and help
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1 ensure that the next generation of African children

2 have the tools they need to better their futures.

3 SEC. 3. STUDY REQUIRED.

4 Part B of the National Telecommunications and In5 formation Administration Organization Act is amended by

6 adding at the end the following new section:

7 ‘‘SEC. 136. STUDY AND REPORT ON SATELLITE-BASED EDU8 CATIONAL NETWORK FOR AFRICAN CHIL9 DREN.

10 ‘‘(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Within 6 months following

11 enactment of this section, the National Telecommuni12 cations and Information Administration shall conduct a

13 feasibility study identifying the opportunities, facilities,

14 programming and other resources necessary for establish15 ment of networks using modern telecommunications tech16 nologies for the purpose of providing educational and

17 other training essential to ensure growth and opportuni18 ties in Africa. The study shall pay particular attention to

19 the educational needs of, and opportunities to address

20 those needs, in rural and remote areas. In conducting such

21 study, the National Telecommunications and Information

22 Administration shall identify resources and programs of

23 governmental, nongovernmental, and multinational agen24 cies that may be deployed promptly and economically. The

25 study shall identify any legal, procedural, or technical im-
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1 pediments to the establishment of such a network or net2 works and the appropriate steps to remove such impedi3 ments.

4 ‘‘(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—The National Tele5 communications and Information Administration shall

6 submit to the President and the Congress a report on the

7 results of the study required by subsection (a). The Na8 tional Telecommunications and Information Administra9 tion shall include in such report any legislative or adminis10 trative actions required to promote the establishment of

11 such a network.

12 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There

13 are authorized to be appropriated $285,000 to carry out

14 this section.’’.

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