BRIDGE Act of 2019

To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to establish a digital network technology program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building Resources Into Digital Growth and Education Act of 2019 BRIDGE Act of 2019 2. Establishment of program The National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act ( 47 U.S.C. 901 D Digital Network Technology Program 171. Program authorized The Secretary shall establish, within the Technology Opportunities Program of the NTIA, a digital network technology program through which the Secretary awards grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to eligible institutions to assist such institutions in acquiring, and augmenting use by such institutions of, broadband internet access service to improve the quality and delivery of educational services provided by such institutions. 172. Activities supported An eligible institution shall use a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under this part— (1) to acquire broadband internet access service, digital network technology, and infrastructure to further the objective of the program described in section 171; (2) to develop and provide training, education, and professional development programs, including faculty development, to increase the use of, and usefulness of, broadband internet access service; (3) to provide teacher education, including the provision of preservice teacher training and in-service professional development at eligible institutions, 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 broadband internet access service in the classroom or instructional process, including instruction in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology subjects; (4) to obtain capacity-building technical assistance, including through remote technical support, technical assistance workshops, and distance learning services; (5) to foster the use of broadband internet access service to improve research and education, including scientific, mathematics, engineering, and technology instruction; or (6) to create or support centers at the eligible institution designed to support innovation, opportunity, and advancement for entrepreneurs and start-ups. 173. Application and review procedures (a) In general To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part, an eligible institution shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application, at a minimum, shall include a description of how the funds will be used, including a description of any digital network technology to be acquired, and a description of how the institution will ensure that broadband internet access service will be made accessible to, and employed by, students, faculty, and administrators. The Secretary, in consultation with the advisory council established under subsection (b) and consistent with subsection (c), shall establish procedures to review such applications. The Secretary shall publish the application requirements and review criteria in the Federal Register, along with a statement describing the availability of funds. (b) Advisory council The Secretary shall establish an advisory council to advise the Secretary on the best approaches to encourage maximum participation by eligible institutions in the program established under this part, and on the procedures to review applications submitted to the program. In selecting the members of the advisory council, the Secretary shall consult with representatives of appropriate organizations, including representatives of eligible institutions, to ensure that the membership of the advisory council includes representatives of minority businesses and eligible institution communities. The Secretary shall also consult with experts in digital network technology to ensure that such expertise is represented on the advisory council. (c) Review panel Each application submitted under this part by an eligible institution shall be reviewed by a panel of individuals selected by the Secretary to judge the quality and merit of the proposal, including the extent to which the eligible institution can effectively and successfully utilize the proposed grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to carry out the objective of the program described in section 171. The Secretary shall ensure that the review panels include representatives of eligible institutions and others who are knowledgeable about eligible institutions and technology issues. The Secretary shall ensure that no individual assigned under this subsection to review any application has a conflict of interest with regard to that application. The Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the review panel in determining whether to award a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to an eligible institution. 174. Awards (a) Limitation An eligible institution that receives a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this part that exceeds $2,500,000 shall not be eligible to receive another grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this part. (b) Consortia Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts under this part may only be awarded to eligible institutions. Eligible institutions may seek funding under this part for consortia, which may include other eligible institutions, States or State educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, national nonprofit organizations, or businesses, including minority businesses. (c) Coordination and partnership with private providers In seeking funding under this part, eligible institutions are encouraged, where feasible, to coordinate and partner with qualified private providers of the services and activities supported under section 172. (d) Institutional diversity In awarding grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts under this part to eligible institutions, the Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that awards are made to all types of institutions eligible for assistance under this part. (e) Need In awarding grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts under this part, the Secretary shall give priority to the eligible institution with the greatest demonstrated need for assistance. 175. Information dissemination The Secretary shall convene an annual meeting of eligible institutions receiving grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts under this part to foster collaboration and capacity-building activities among eligible institutions. 176. Matching requirement The Secretary may not award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to an eligible institution under this part 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 25 percent of the amount of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded by the Secretary, or $500,000, whichever is the lesser amount. The Secretary shall waive the matching requirement for any institution or consortium that, as of the date of the submission of the application for the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, has no endowment or an endowment the value of which is less than $50,000,000. 177. Annual report and evaluation (a) Annual report required from recipients Each eligible institution that receives a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part shall provide an annual report to the Secretary on its use of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. (b) Independent assessments (1) Contract to conduct assessments Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this part, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to conduct periodic assessments of the program established under this part. The assessments shall be conducted once every 3 years during the 10-year period following the date of the enactment of this part. (2) Evaluations and recommendations The assessments described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program established under this part in improving the education and training of students, faculty, and staff at eligible institutions that have been awarded grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts under this part; (B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in improving access to, and familiarity with, digital network technology and broadband internet access service for students, faculty, and staff at all eligible institutions; (C) an evaluation of the procedures established under section 173(a); and (D) recommendations for improving the program, including recommendations concerning the continuing need for Federal support. (3) Review of reports In carrying out the assessments under this subsection, the National Academy of Public Administration shall review the reports submitted to the Secretary under subsection (a). (c) Report to Congress Upon completion of each assessment under subsection (b), the Secretary shall transmit the assessment to Congress along with a summary of the plans of the Secretary, if any, to implement the recommendations of the National Academy of Public Administration. . 3. Definitions Section 102(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act ( 47 U.S.C. 901(a) (6) The term eligible institution (A) an institution of higher education that is— (i) an institution described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) (ii) an institution described in section 326(e)(1) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1063b(e)(1) (iii) a minority institution (as defined in section 365 of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1067k 20 U.S.C. 1058(d) (iv) an institution determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to have a substantial enrollment of minority students who are eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a (B) a consortium of institutions described in subparagraph (A). (7) The term digital network technology (8) The term minority (9) The term State 20 U.S.C. 7801 (10) The term State educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (11) The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (12) The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (13) The term broadband internet access service .

Summary: Building Resources Into Digital Growth and Education Act of 2019 or the BRIDGE Act of 2019 This bill establishes a digital network technology program to award grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to eligible institutions. Specifically, the bill provides funds to historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions for the acquisition and use of broadband internet service to improve the quality and delivery of educational services. Such funds shall be used to provide training and education for students and faculty, obtain technical assistance, and create centers at institutions to support innovation and opportunity for entrepreneurs and start-ups.