Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-432
Sponsor: Sen. Allen, George [R-VA]
Introduced: 2005-02-17 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: 2005-02-17
text: Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2005 - 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.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2005 - 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. 
Requires: (1) a matching recipient contribution of 25 percent of the federal assistance amount; and (2) annual reports from recipients to the NSF Director on the uses of such assistance. 
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. 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2010.
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

 
Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2005 - 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. 
Requires: (1) a matching recipient contribution of 25 percent of the federal assistance amount; and (2) annual reports from recipients to the NSF Director on the uses of such assistance. 
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. 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2010.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7941-7942; text as passed Senate: CR S7942)
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7941-7942; text as passed Senate: CR S7942)
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens without amendment. With written report No. 109-94.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens without amendment. With written report No. 109-94.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2005-03-08
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1652-1653)
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate