Native American Connectivity Act

Bill: 108-s-2382
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2004-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Auditing
Block grants
Civil actions and liability
Colleges
Commemorations
Computer literacy
Computers
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction costs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to education
Federal-Indian relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government statistics
Health
Higher education
Historic sites
History
Indian education
Indian lands
Information technology
Internet
Labor and Employment
Land transfers
Law
Leases
Minorities
Minority education
Performance measurement
Planning
Science, Technology, Communications
Student employment
Technical education
Telecommunication systems
Telemedicine
Telephone

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-04
text: 
Native American Connectivity Act - Establishes within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration a Native American telecommunications block grant program to provide grants on a competitive basis to an Indian tribe or organization, tribal college or university, or institution of higher education acting jointly with an Indian tribe to carry out activities for the development of telecommunications capacities in Indian country.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide training and technical assistance grants to: (1) develop a training program for telecommunications employees; or (2) provide assistance to students who participate in telecommunications or information technology work study programs and are enrolled in a full-time program in telecommunications-related education, development, planning, or management.
 
Outlines provisions concerning: (1) fiscal year block grant set-asides for the training and technical assistance grants; (2) audits of grant fund uses; (3) environmental compliance in the development of telecommunications facilities; (4) remedies for noncompliance with block grant requirements; and (5) reporting requirements of the Secretary and grant recipients.

action_date: 2004-09-07
text: 
Native American Connectivity Act - Establishes within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration a Native American telecommunications block grant program to provide grants on a competitive basis to an Indian tribe or organization, tribal college or university, or institution of higher education acting jointly with an Indian tribe to carry out activities for the development of telecommunications capacities in Indian country.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide training and technical assistance grants to: (1) facilitate local use and maintenance of new telecommunications technologies; (2) develop and implement telecommunications and information technology work study programs and related education, development, planning, and management programs; (3) develop a training program for telecommunications employees; or (4) provide assistance to students who participate in programs under (2), above.
 
Provides for: (1) fiscal year block grant set-asides for the training and technical assistance grants; (2) Comptroller General audits of grant fund uses; (3) environmental compliance in the development of telecommunications facilities; and (4) remedies for noncompliance with block grant requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on progress made in accomplishing this Act's objectives, the use of grant funds, and an evaluation of the status of telephone, Internet, and personal computer penetration among Indian households.
 
Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 691.
action_date: 2004-09-07
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Campbell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-335.
action_date: 2004-09-07
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Campbell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-335.
action_date: 2004-07-21
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 108-592.
action_date: 2004-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4843-4844)
action_date: 2004-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4842-4843)
action_date: 2004-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate