Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-196
Sponsor: Sen. Allen, George [R-VA]
Introduced: 2003-01-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Alaska
Arts, Culture, Religion
Black colleges
Commerce
Computer literacy
Computer networks
Computer software
Computers
Conferences
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Distance education
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational planning
Educational technology
Elementary and secondary education
Engineering
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Hawaii
Hawaiians
Higher education
Hispanic Americans
Indian education
Indigenous peoples
Infrastructure
Mathematics
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Minority education
National Science Foundation
Nonprofit organizations
Paraprofessional school personnel
Preschool education
Public-private partnerships
Research
School libraries
School personnel
Scientific education
Small business
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Technical education
Telecommunication systems
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2003-01-17
text: Digital and Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003 - Establishes within the National Science Foundation (NSF) an Office of Digital and Wireless Network Technology to: (1) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements (assistance) to eligible institutions to provide educational instruction in digital and wireless network technologies; and (2) strengthen the national digital and wireless infrastructure by increasing national investment in telecommunications and technology infrastructure at eligible institutions.
Requires the NSF Director to establish an advisory council on the best approaches for involving eligible institutions in supported activities.
Makes the following institutions eligible for such assistance: (1) a historically Black college or university; (2) a Hispanic-, Alaska Native-, or Native Hawaiian-serving institution; (3) a tribally controlled college or university; or (4) an institution determined to have enrolled a substantial number of minority, low-income students who received assistance under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Provides a matching funds requirement.
Prohibits an institution that receives assistance exceeding $2.5 million from receiving further assistance until every other eligible institution has received assistance under this Act.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Digital and Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003 - Establishes within the National Science Foundation (NSF) an Office of Digital and Wireless Network Technology to: (1) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements (assistance) to eligible institutions to provide educational instruction in digital and wireless network technologies; and (2) strengthen the national digital and wireless infrastructure by increasing national investment in telecommunications and technology infrastructure at eligible institutions.
Requires the NSF Director to establish an advisory council on the best approaches for involving eligible institutions in supported activities.
Makes the following institutions eligible for such assistance: (1) a historically Black college or university; (2) a Hispanic-, Alaska Native-, or Native Hawaiian-serving institution; (3) a tribally controlled college or university; or (4) an institution determined to have enrolled a substantial number of minority, low-income students who received assistance under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Provides a matching funds requirement.
Prohibits an institution that receives assistance exceeding $2.5 million from receiving further assistance until every other eligible institution has received assistance under this Act.
Requires each institution receiving such assistance to report annually to the Director on its use of such assistance. Requires the Director to review such reports, evaluate such assistance program, and report recommendations to Congress, including recommendations on the continuing need for Federal support of the program.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2003 - Establishes within the National Science Foundation (NSF) an Office of Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology to: (1) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements (assistance) to eligible institutions to provide educational instruction in digital and wireless network technologies; and (2) strengthen the national digital and wireless infrastructure by increasing national investment in telecommunications and technology infrastructure at eligible institutions.
Requires the NSF Director to establish an advisory council on the best approaches for involving eligible institutions in supported activities and for reviewing and evaluating submitted proposals. Requires the council to include members from minority serving institutions.
Makes the following institutions eligible for such assistance: (1) a historically Black college or university; (2) a Hispanic-, Alaska Native-, or Native Hawaiian-serving institution; (3) a tribally controlled college or university; or (4) an institution determined to have enrolled a substantial number of minority, low-income students who received assistance under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Provides a matching funds requirement.
Prohibits an institution that receives assistance exceeding $2.5 million from receiving further assistance until every other eligible institution has received assistance under this Act.
Requires each institution receiving such assistance to report annually to the Director on its use of such assistance. Requires the Director to review such reports, evaluate such assistance program, and report recommendations to Congress, including recommendations on the continuing need for Federal support of the program.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research.
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay. 97 - 0. Record Vote Number: 136. (text: CR S5510-5511)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay. 97 - 0. Record Vote Number: 136.(text: CR S5510-5511)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5504-5511)
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 60.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with amendments. With written report No. 108-34.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with amendments. With written report No. 108-34.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held.
action_date: 2003-01-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S1152-1153)
action_date: 2003-01-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1151-1152)
action_date: 2003-01-17
text: Introduced in Senate