I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2801
To establish a digital and wireless network technology program, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 21, 2003
Mr. FORBES (for himself, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Ms. EDDIE 
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. JOHN, 
Mr. VITTER, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. WELLER, Mr. SCOTT of 
Virginia, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. BAKER, Ms. LEE, Mr. FER-
GUSON, and Mr. OWENS) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Minority Serving Insti-
tution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act 
of 2003’’.
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 (f): 
‘‘(g) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION DIGITAL AND 
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Under Secretary, shall establish a Mi-
nority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Tech-
nology Opportunity Program to assist eligible insti-
tutions in acquiring, and augmenting their use of, 
digital and wireless networking technologies to im-
prove 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); 
‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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 Under
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Under Sec-
retary may require. Such application, at a min-
imum, 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 in-
stitution will ensure that digital and wireless 
networking will be made accessible to, and em-
ployed by, students, faculty, and administra-
tors. The Under Secretary, consistent with sub-
paragraph (C) and in consultation with the ad-
visory council established under subparagraph 
(B), shall establish procedures to review such 
applications. The Under 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 Under 
Secretary shall establish an advisory council to 
advise the Under Secretary on the best ap-
proaches to encourage maximum participation 
by eligible institutions in the program estab-
lished under paragraph (1), and on the proce-
dures to review proposals submitted to the pro-
gram. In selecting the members of the advisory 
council, the Under Secretary shall consult with 
representatives of appropriate organizations, in-
cluding representatives of eligible institutions, 
to ensure that the membership of the advisory 
council includes representatives of minority 
businesses and eligible institution communities. 
The Under Secretary shall also consult with ex-
perts in digital and wireless networking tech-
nology to ensure that such expertise is rep-
resented on the advisory council. 
‘‘(C) REVIEW PANELS.—Each application 
submitted under this subsection by an eligible 
institution shall be reviewed by a panel of indi-
viduals selected by the Under Secretary to 
judge the quality and merit of the proposal, in-
cluding the extent to which the eligible institu-
tion can effectively and successfully utilize the 
proposed grant, cooperative agreement, or con-
tract to carry out the program described in 
paragraph (1). The Under Secretary shall en-
sure that the review panels include representa-
tives of minority serving institutions and others 
who are knowledgeable about eligible institu-
tions and technology issues. The Under Sec-
retary shall ensure that no individual assigned 
under this subsection to review any application 
has a conflict of interest with regard to that ap-
plication. The Under Secretary shall take into 
consideration the recommendations of the re-
view panel in determining whether to award a 
grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to an 
eligible institution. 
‘‘(D) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.—The 
Under Secretary shall convene an annual meet-
ing of eligible institutions receiving grants, co-
operative agreements, or contracts under this 
subsection to foster collaboration and capacity-
building activities among eligible institutions. 
‘‘(E) 
MATCHING
REQUIREMENT.—The 
Under Secretary may not award a grant, coop-
erative agreement, or contract to an eligible in-
stitution under this subsection unless such in-
stitution agrees that, with respect to the costs 
incurred by the institution in carrying out the 
program for which the grant, cooperative agree-
ment, or contract was awarded, such institution 
shall make available, directly, or through dona-
tions from public or private entities, non-Fed-
eral contributions in an amount equal to one-
quarter of the grant, cooperative agreement, or 
contract awarded by the Under Secretary, or 
$500,000, whichever is the lesser amount. The 
Under Secretary shall waive the matching re-
quirement for any institution 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, 
community-based organizations, national 
nonprofit organizations, or businesses, in-
cluding minority businesses.
‘‘(iii) 
PLANNING
GRANTS.—The 
Under Secretary may provide funds to de-
velop strategic plans to implement such 
grants, cooperative agreements, or con-
tracts. 
‘‘(iv) INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY.—In 
awarding grants, cooperative agreements, 
and contracts to eligible institutions, the 
Under Secretary shall ensure, to the extent 
practicable, that awards are made to all 
types of institutions eligible for assistance 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(v) 
NEED.—In 
awarding 
funds 
under this subsection, the Under Secretary 
shall give priority to the institution with 
the greatest demonstrated need for assist-
ance. 
‘‘(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
Under Secretary 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 Under 
Secretary shall enter into a contract with 
the National Academy of Public Adminis-
tration to conduct periodic assessments of 
the program. The Assessments shall be 
conducted once every 3 years during the 
10-year period following the enactment of 
this subsection. The assessments shall in-
clude an evaluation of the effectiveness of 
the program in improving the education 
and training of students, faculty and staff 
at eligible institutions that have been 
awarded grants, cooperative agreements, or 
contracts under the program; an evaluation 
of the effectiveness of the program in im-
proving access to, and familiarity with, dig-
ital and wireless networking technology for 
students, faculty, and staff at all eligible 
institutions; an evaluation of the proce-
dures established under paragraph (3)(A); 
and recommendations for improving the
program, including recommendations con-
cerning the continuing need for Federal 
support. In carrying out its assessments, 
the National Academy of Public Adminis-
tration shall review the reports submitted 
to the Under Secretary under clause (i). 
‘‘(iii) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Upon 
completion of each independent assessment 
carried out under clause (ii), the Under 
Secretary shall transmit the assessment to 
Congress along with a summary of the 
Under Secretary’s plans, if any, to imple-
ment the recommendations 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—
‘‘(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
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)).
‘‘(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 Tech-
nology Administration of the Department of Commerce to 
carry out section 5(g) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980—
(1) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; 
(2) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; 
(3) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(4) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
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