propriated under this part may be used by the Secretary
to cover the cost of administering the provisions of this part.
‘‘PART D—TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
‘‘SEC. 131. PURPOSE.
‘‘It is the purpose of this part to facilitate the develop-
ment of the national telecommunications and information
infrastructure by authorizing the Secretary to establish and
maintain, by the most efficient and economical means, a
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Devel-
opment Program that will promote the widespread avail-
ability of advanced telecommunications technologies to—
‘‘(1) enhance the delivery to the public of diverse
social services, including education and health care;
and
‘‘(2) support, through the interconnection and
improvement of existing facilities and the deployment
of new facilities, the formation of a nationwide, mul-
timedia, high-speed, interactive infrastructure of var-
ied information technologies.
‘‘SEC. 132. GRANT AUTHORITY.
‘‘(a) GRANT PURPOSES AND CRITERIA.—In accord-
ance with the requirements of this part, the Secretary is
authorized to award grants to eligible applicants (as de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1)) to assist the development of a
national telecommunications and information infrastruc-
ture. The Secretary shall not award a grant under this part
unless the Secretary determines that the project will pro-
mote one or more of the following objectives:
‘‘(1) expand or otherwise augment telecommuni-
cations networks or information technology systems
for health care providers, educational institutions, re-
search facilities, libraries, museums, State and local
governments, and other social service and public in-
formation providers;
‘‘(2) enhance the ability, through interconnec-
tion, of health care providers, educational institu-
tions, research facilities, libraries, museums, State
and local governments, and other social service and
public information providers to have access to exist-
ing and new sources of information;
‘‘(3) the development and utilization of stand-
ards for interoperability and interconnection of the
various facilities, systems, and networks which would
comprise a demonstration or pilot project;
‘‘(4) universal availability and utilization of an
advanced telecommunications and information infra-
structure, especially for traditionally underserved
populations; and
‘‘(5) demonstrate and improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the delivery of social services, such as
education and health care, to the American people.
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS.—Any eligible appli-
cant desiring to obtain a grant under this part shall submit
to the Secretary an application containing such informa-
tion with respect to such project as the Secretary may re-
quire. Each applicant shall also provide assurances satis-
factory to the Secretary that—
‘‘(1) the applicant is—
‘‘(A) a nonprofit foundation, corporation,
institution, or association;
‘‘(B) a State or local government (or any
agency thereof), or a political or special purpose
subdivision of a State or local government; or
‘‘(C) any enterprise owned and operated by
a State or local government entity;
‘‘(2) the applicant has the technical, administra-
tive, and financial capability to obtain, operate, and
maintain the facilities, systems, or networks that are
the subject of the application;
‘‘(3) the applicant has chosen an efficient and ec-
onomical means to achieve its communications or in-
formation needs, and has not failed to utilize commer-
cially available network services to meet such needs to