Title: BRIDGE Act of 2019
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

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.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1586 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1586

To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
Organization Act to establish a digital network technology program, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 7, 2019

 Mr. Butterfield introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee 
 on Education and Labor, 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 amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
Organization Act to establish a digital network technology program, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Building Resources Into Digital 
Growth and Education Act of 2019'' or the ``BRIDGE Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

              ``PART D--DIGITAL NETWORK TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

``SEC. 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.

``SEC. 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.

``SEC. 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.

``SEC. 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.

``SEC. 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.

``SEC. 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.

``SEC. 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.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 102(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
            ``(6) The term `eligible institution' means--
                    ``(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)) 
                        that has an enrollment of needy students (as 
                        defined in section 312(d) of such Act (20 
                        U.S.C. 1058(d))); or
                            ``(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 
                        et seq.); or
                    ``(B) a consortium of institutions described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(7) The term `digital network technology' means computer 
        and communications equipment and software that facilitates the 
        transmission of information in a digital format.
            ``(8) The term `minority' means an American Indian, Alaskan 
        Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including 
        persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South 
        American origin), or Pacific Islander individual.
            ``(9) The term `State' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(10) The term `State educational agency' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(11) The term `institution of higher education' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            ``(12) The term `local educational agency' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(13) The term `broadband internet access service' means a 
        mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the 
        capability to transmit data to, and receive data from, all or 
        substantially all internet endpoints, including any 
        capabilities that are incidental to, and enable the operation 
        of, the communications service, but excluding dial-up internet 
        access service. Such term also includes any service the 
        Commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of 
        such service.''.
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