I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4477
To establish a Digital Bridge Trust Fund to fund programs to improve
the skills and career opportunities in information technology and related
fields for individuals in underserved rural and urban communities, and
for Native Americans, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 17, 2000
Mr. TOWNS (for himself, Ms. WATERS, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. RUSH, Mr. WYNN,
Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr.
HILLIARD, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs. MEEK of Flor-
ida, Mr. FORD, Ms. CARSON, and Mr. PAYNE) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition
to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce,
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Banking and Financial Services,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
A BILL
To establish a Digital Bridge Trust Fund to fund programs
to improve the skills and career opportunities in informa-
tion technology and related fields for individuals in un-
derserved rural and urban communities, and for Native
Americans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Digital Bridge Trust
Fund Act’’.
SEC. 2. DIGITAL BRIDGE TRUST FUND AND ASSISTANCE
FROM TRUST FUND.
(a) IN
GENERAL.—The National Telecommuni-
cations and Information Administration Organization Act
is amended—
(1) by redesignating part C as part D; and
(2) by inserting after part B (47 U.S.C. 921 et
seq.) the following new part:
‘‘PART C—ASSISTANCE TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE
‘‘SEC. 131. DIGITAL BRIDGE TRUST FUND.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the
Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known
as the Digital Bridge Trust Fund, consisting of such
amounts as may be appropriated or credited pursuant to
subsection (b) or (d).
‘‘(b) TRANSFER OF AMOUNTS EQUIVALENT TO CER-
TAIN TAXES.—There are hereby appropriated to the Dig-
ital Bridge Trust Fund amounts equivalent to 100 percent
of the taxes received in the Treasury after September 30,
2000, under section 4251 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (relating to tax on communications).
‘‘(c) EXPENDITURES.—Amounts in the Digital
Bridge Trust Fund shall be available, to the extent pro-
vided in appropriation Acts, solely for making expendi-
tures to provide assistance under section 133(a).
‘‘(d) TREATMENT AS TRUST FUND.—For purposes
of subchapter B of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, the Digital Bridge Trust Fund shall be con-
sidered to be a trust fund established by subchapter A of
such chapter.
‘‘SEC. 132. BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the
Department of Commerce a board to be known as the
Board of Trustees of the Digital Bridge Trust Fund (in
this part referred to as the ‘Board’).
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Board shall be—
‘‘(1) to allocate amounts in the Digital Bridge
Trust Fund and make such amounts available in ac-
cordance with the requirements of section 133;
‘‘(2) to make decisions regarding the allocation
of assistance from amounts in the Digital Bridge
Trust Fund under subsections (b)(2) and (c) of sec-
tion 133 and make such amounts available in ac-
cordance with such allocation decisions;
‘‘(3) in making such decisions, to consult with
foundations and other nongovernmental organiza-
tions involved in promoting or providing education
or training in knowledge or skills regarding informa-
tion technology; and
‘‘(4) to prepare and submit annual reports in
accordance with subsection (g).
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall consist of 11
members as follows:
‘‘(1) The Secretary of Commerce (or the Sec-
retary’s designee), who shall be the chairperson of
the Board.
‘‘(2) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of
Commerce from among the officers and employees of
the Department of Commerce.
‘‘(3) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of
Education from among the officers and employees of
the Department of Education.
‘‘(4) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of
Labor from among the officers and employees of the
Department of Labor.
‘‘(5) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services from among the officers
and employees of the Department of Health and
Human Services.
‘‘(6) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development from among the
officers and employees of the Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development.
The initial members of the Board shall be appointed not
later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning
on the date of the enactment of the Digital Bridge Trust
Fund Act.
‘‘(d) TERMS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each member shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years.
‘‘(2) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to
fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the
term for which the member’s predecessor was ap-
pointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of
that term. A member may serve after the expiration
of that member’s term until a successor has taken
office. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was
made.
‘‘(e) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION.—Members of
the Board shall not receive any pay, allowances, or bene-
fits by reason of their service on the Board.
‘‘(f) SUPPORT SERVICES
AND FACILITIES.—Upon
the request of the Board, the Secretary of Commerce shall
provide to the Board any facilities and administrative and
other support services necessary for the Board to carry
out its responsibilities.
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Board shall submit a
report annually to the President and the Congress regard-
ing its activities. Each report shall describe the assistance
provided from the Digital Bridge Trust Fund during the
year for which the report is made and any effects of such
assistance in meeting the information technology needs of
rural, urban, and Native American communities.
‘‘SEC. 133. PROVISION OF DIGITAL BRIDGE ASSISTANCE.
‘‘(a) ALLOCATION OF ASSISTANCE.—In providing as-
sistance pursuant to this section, the Board shall ensure
that, notwithstanding any provision of law referred to in
subsection (b), all such assistance is—
‘‘(1) made available for the benefit of rural and
urban areas, and Native Americans, in a manner
that targets such assistance for areas, communities,
and populations (including low-income families and
individuals) that are underserved with respect to in-
formation technology needs, employment, and edu-
cation; and
‘‘(2) to the greatest extent possible, ensure that
such assistance is appropriately allocated so that
rural and urban areas, and Native Americans, are
each fairly served by such amounts.
‘‘(b) REQUIRED MINIMUM ASSISTANCE.—Except as
provided in subsections (c) and (d), from the amount made
available under section 135 for each of fiscal years 2001
through 2010, the Board shall make assistance available
for the following activities in the following amounts:
‘‘(1) TEACHER TRAINING.—For each such fiscal
year, not less than $300,000,000 for assistance
under section 3122 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6832) for
training teachers to use technology effectively in the
classroom.
‘‘(2) COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTERS.—For
each such fiscal year, not less than $200,000,000 for
assistance under section 3122 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6832) for establishing community technology centers
to provide individuals who cannot afford access to
computers, technology training, and technological
tools such access appropriate to improve their edu-
cational performance and their ability to compete for
and hold jobs.
‘‘(3) NEIGHBORHOOD
NETWORK
LEARNING
CENTERS.—For each such fiscal year, not less than
$200,000,000 for assistance by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development for public-private
partnerships to establish neighborhood learning cen-
ters providing computer-based services to help resi-
dents of federally assisted housing learn critical com-
puter skills that will improve their educational per-
formance and employment qualifications.
‘‘(4) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FUND.—For
each such fiscal year, not less than $200,000,000 for
the Technology Development Fund under section
714 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
614) to provide loans and investment capital to
small communications businesses to stimulate new
technological growth and development, promote uni-
versal service, and enhance the delivery of tele-
communications services to rural and underserved
areas.
‘‘(5) TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM.—
For 
each 
such 
fiscal 
year, 
not 
less 
than
$145,000,000 for grants under the Technology Op-
portunity Program of the Secretary of Commerce
pursuant to subpart A of part IV of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 390 et seq.) to provide
matching funds to State, local, and tribal govern-
ments and nonprofit entities to extend the benefit of
information technology to all Americans, especially
those in underserved areas.
‘‘(6) RURAL, URBAN, AND NATIVE AMERICAN
TECHNOLOGY TRAINING.—For each such fiscal year,
not less than $300,000,000 for preparing residents
of rural and urban areas, and Native Americans, for
careers in programming, database development, net-
work engineering, and other advance information
and technical fields.
‘‘(7) BROADBAND
NETWORK
DEPLOYMENT.—
For 
each 
such 
fiscal 
year, 
not 
less 
than
$100,000,000 for assistance regarding deployment
of broadband networks (including wireless and
wireline technologies), except that of such amount in
each such fiscal year—
‘‘(A) not less than $2,000,000 shall be
available only for research activities of the Na-
tional Telecommunications and Information Ad-
ministration 
regarding 
improvement 
of
broadband (including wireless and wireline)
technology in support of next-generation Inter-
net; and
‘‘(B) not less than $98,000,000 shall be
available only for assistance under the Public
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965
(42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) for implementing de-
ployment of such networks.
‘‘(8) HOME INTERNET ACCESS PROGRAM.—For
each such fiscal year, not less than $100,000,000 for
grants under a Home Internet Access Program of
the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration pursuant to subpart A of part IV of
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 390 et
seq.) to assist public-private partnerships to address
the needs of low-income individuals and families in
gaining access to technology and online resources at
home, except that notwithstanding subsections (a)
and (c) of section 392 of such Act, such amounts
may be used to support activities to provide low-in-
come individuals and families with access to the
Internet in their homes.
‘‘(9) FALLING THROUGH THE NET SURVEY.—
Only for fiscal years 2004 and 2007, not less than
$500,000 for each such fiscal year for the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration
for conducting the Falling Through the Net survey,
pursuant to sections 901 and 902 of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration
Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901, 902) to determine
the extent to which Americans have access to tele-
phones, computers, and the Internet.
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE ALLOCATED AT DISCRETION OF
BOARD.—The Board shall use any amounts made avail-
able under section 135 for any fiscal year that are in ex-
cess of the amounts required to be used for assistance
under subsection (b) to provide—
‘‘(1) assistance under the programs referred to
in such paragraph in addition to the amounts re-
quired under such paragraph; or
‘‘(2) other assistance, as the Board determines
appropriate, to serve the information technology
needs of, or improve the information technology edu-
cational or employment opportunities for, residents
of rural and urban areas, and Native Americans,
that are underserved with respect to information
technology needs, jobs, and education.
The Board shall have complete discretion to make
amounts available under this paragraph for any of the
purposes referred to in this paragraph in such amounts
as the Board determines appropriate.
‘‘(d) AUTHORITY TO REDUCE REQUIRED ASSIST-
ANCE IN SECOND 5 YEARS.—In any of fiscal years 2006
through 2010, the Board may, by a vote of not less than
8 members of the Board held not more than 3 months
before the beginning of such fiscal year, waive the applica-
bility of any one or more of the paragraphs of subsection
(b) for such fiscal year and provide assistance for such
fiscal year for the purpose referred to in such paragraph
in any reduced amount determined appropriate by the
Board. Any amounts otherwise required to be used under
any such paragraph of subsection (b) that are available
by reason of action by the Board pursuant to this sub-
section shall be treated as excess amounts to be to allo-
cated and made available by the Board under subsection
(c).
‘‘(e) PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.—Notwithstanding any
provision of subsection (b) or (c), amounts made available
under section 135 may not be used for the construction,
rehabilitation, or acquisition of any structure in which to
provide training or other information technology services
assisted pursuant to subsection (a).
‘‘SEC. 134. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary of Commerce may prescribe such regu-
lations as may be necessary to carry out this part.
‘‘SEC. 135. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For each of fiscal years 2001 through 2010 there are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part an
amount equal to the amount deposited to the Digital
Bridge Trust Fund for such fiscal year pursuant to section
131.’’.
(b) REPEAL.—Effective October 1, 2010, part C of
the National Telecommunications and Information Ad-
ministration Organization Act is repealed.
SEC. 3. REDUCTION OF EXCISE TAX ON TELEPHONE AND
OTHER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.
(a) REDUCTION.—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 1.5 percent.’’
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall apply to amounts paid pursuant to
bills first rendered after September 30, 2000.
(b) REPEAL.—Subchapter B of chapter 33 of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 is repealed effective with re-
spect to bills rendered on or after October 1, 2010.
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that providers of communications services (as such
term is defined in section 4251(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986) should not increase rates for such services
based upon any reduction in the excise tax on such serv-
ices pursuant to the amendments made by this section.
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