IIB 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 694 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
SEPTEMBER 5, 2007 
Received 
OCTOBER 4, 2007 
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation 
AN ACT 
To establish a digital and wireless network technology 
program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Minority Serving Insti-
tution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act 
of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. 
Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended by insert-
ing the following after subsection (b): 
‘‘(c) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION DIGITAL AND 
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wire-
less Technology Opportunity Program to assist eligi-
ble institutions in acquiring, and augmenting their 
use of, digital and wireless networking technologies 
to improve the quality and delivery of educational 
services at eligible institutions. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An eligible in-
stitution may use a grant, cooperative agreement, or 
contract awarded under this subsection— 
‘‘(A) to acquire equipment, instrumenta-
tion, networking capability, hardware and soft-
ware, digital network technology, wireless tech-
nology, and infrastructure to further the objec-
tive of the Program described in paragraph (1); 
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‘‘(B) to develop and provide training, edu-
cation, and professional development programs, 
including faculty development, to increase the 
use of, and usefulness of, digital and wireless 
networking technology; 
‘‘(C) to provide teacher education, includ-
ing the provision of preservice teacher training 
and in-service professional development at eligi-
ble institutions, library and media specialist 
training, and preschool and teacher aid certifi-
cation to individuals who seek to acquire or en-
hance technology skills in order to use digital 
and wireless networking technology in the class-
room or instructional process, including instruc-
tion in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
technology subjects; 
‘‘(D) to obtain capacity-building technical 
assistance, including through remote technical 
support, technical assistance workshops, and 
distance learning services; and 
‘‘(E) to foster the use of digital and wire-
less networking technology to improve research 
and education, including scientific, mathe-
matics, engineering, and technology instruction. 
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‘‘(3) 
APPLICATION
AND
REVIEW
PROCE-
DURES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant, cooperative agreement, or con-
tract under this subsection, an eligible institu-
tion shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining 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 and 
wireless networking technology to be acquired, 
and a description of how the institution will en-
sure that digital and wireless networking will be 
made accessible to, and employed by, students, 
faculty, and administrators. The Secretary, con-
sistent with subparagraph (C) and in consulta-
tion with the advisory council established under 
subparagraph (B), 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 
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panels include representatives of minority serv-
ing institutions and others who are knowledge-
able about eligible institutions and technology 
issues. The Secretary shall ensure that no indi-
vidual 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 con-
tract to an eligible institution. 
‘‘(D) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.—The 
Secretary shall convene an annual meeting of 
eligible institutions receiving grants, cooperative 
agreements, or contracts under this subsection 
to foster collaboration and capacity-building ac-
tivities among eligible institutions. 
‘‘(E) 
MATCHING
REQUIREMENT.—The 
Secretary may not award a grant, cooperative 
agreement, or contract to an eligible institution 
under this subsection unless such institution 
agrees that, with respect to the costs incurred 
by the institution in carrying out the program 
for which the grant, cooperative agreement, or 
contract was awarded, such institution shall 
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make available, directly, or through donations 
from public or private entities, non-Federal con-
tributions in an amount equal to one-quarter of 
the grant, cooperative agreement, or contract 
awarded by the Secretary, or $500,000, which-
ever is the lesser amount. The Secretary shall 
waive the matching requirement for any institu-
tion or consortium with no endowment, or an 
endowment that has a current dollar value 
lower than $50,000,000. 
‘‘(F) AWARDS.— 
‘‘(i) LIMITATION.—An eligible institu-
tion that receives a grant, cooperative 
agreement, or contract under this sub-
section that exceeds $2,500,000 shall not 
be eligible to receive another grant, cooper-
ative agreement, or contract. 
‘‘(ii) CONSORTIA.—Grants, coopera-
tive agreements, and contracts may only be 
awarded to eligible institutions. Eligible in-
stitutions may seek funding under this 
subsection for consortia which may include 
other eligible institutions, a State or a 
State education agency, local education 
agencies, institutions of higher education, 
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community-based organizations, national 
nonprofit organizations, or businesses, in-
cluding minority businesses. 
‘‘(iii) PLANNING GRANTS.—The Sec-
retary may provide funds to develop stra-
tegic plans to implement such grants, co-
operative agreements, or contracts. 
‘‘(iv) INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY.—In 
awarding grants, cooperative agreements, 
and contracts to eligible institutions, the 
Secretary shall ensure, to the extent prac-
ticable, that awards are made to all types 
of institutions eligible for assistance under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(v) 
NEED.—In 
awarding 
funds 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
give priority to the institution with the 
greatest demonstrated need for assistance. 
‘‘(G) ANNUAL
REPORT
AND
EVALUA-
TION.— 
‘‘(i) 
ANNUAL
REPORT
REQUIRED 
FROM RECIPIENTS.—Each institution that 
receives a grant, cooperative agreement, or 
contract awarded under this subsection 
shall provide an annual report to the Sec-
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retary on its use of the grant, cooperative 
agreement, or contract. 
‘‘(ii) INDEPENDENT
ASSESSMENT.— 
Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
shall enter into a contract with the Na-
tional Academy of Public Administration 
to conduct periodic assessments of the pro-
gram. The Assessments shall be conducted 
once every 3 years during the 10-year pe-
riod following the enactment of this sub-
section. The assessments shall include an 
evaluation of the effectiveness of the pro-
gram in improving the education and 
training of students, faculty and staff at 
eligible institutions that have been awarded 
grants, cooperative agreements, or con-
tracts under the program; an evaluation of 
the effectiveness of the program in improv-
ing access to, and familiarity with, digital 
and wireless networking technology for stu-
dents, faculty, and staff at all eligible insti-
tutions; an evaluation of the procedures es-
tablished under paragraph (3)(A); and rec-
ommendations for improving the program, 
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including recommendations concerning the 
continuing need for Federal support. In 
carrying out its assessments, the National 
Academy of Public Administration shall re-
view the reports submitted to the Secretary 
under clause (i). 
‘‘(iii) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Upon 
completion of each independent assessment 
carried out under clause (ii), the Secretary 
shall transmit the assessment to Congress 
along with a summary of the Secretary’s 
plans, if any, to implement the rec-
ommendations of the National Academy of 
Public Administration. 
‘‘(H) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(i) DIGITAL
AND
WIRELESS
NET-
WORKING
TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘dig-
ital and wireless networking technology’ 
means 
computer 
and 
communications 
equipment and software that facilitates the 
transmission of information in a digital 
format. 
‘‘(ii) ELIGIBLE
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘eligible institution’ means an institu-
tion that is— 
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‘‘(I) a historically Black college 
or university that is a part B institu-
tion, as defined in section 322(2) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1061(2)), an institution de-
scribed 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; 
‘‘(II) a Hispanic-serving institu-
tion, as defined in section 502(a)(5) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5)); 
‘‘(III) 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)); 
‘‘(IV) an Alaska Native-serving 
institution under section 317(b) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1059d(b)); 
‘‘(V) a Native Hawaiian-serving 
institution under section 317(b) of the 
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Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1059d(b)); or 
‘‘(VI) an institution of higher 
education (as defined in section 365 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1067k)) with an enroll-
ment of needy students (as defined in 
section 312(d) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1058(d))). 
‘‘(iii) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘institution of higher 
education’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(iv) LOCAL
EDUCATIONAL
AGEN-
CY.—The term ‘local educational agency’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
‘‘(v) MINORITY BUSINESS.—The term 
‘minority business’ includes HUBZone 
small business concerns (as defined in sec-
tion 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 632(p))). 
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‘‘(vi) 
MINORITY
INDIVIDUAL.—The 
term ‘minority individual’ means an Amer-
ican Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of 
Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including per-
sons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and 
Central or South American origin), or Pa-
cific Islander individual. 
‘‘(vii) STATE.—The term ‘State’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
‘‘(viii) STATE
EDUCATIONAL
AGEN-
CY.—The term ‘State educational agency’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education 
Act 
of 
1965 
(20 
U.S.C. 
7801).’’. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce to carry out section 5(c) of the Ste-
venson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980— 
(1) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and 
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(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of 
the fiscal years 2009 through 2012. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 4, 
2007. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
By JORGE E. SORENSEN, 
Deputy Clerk. 
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