Max Cleland Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act

Bill: 110-s-1650
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-06-19 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
Department of Commerce
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: 2007-06-19
text: 
 Max Cleland Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act - 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: 2008-01-08
text: 
Max Cleland Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act - Establishes in the Department of Commerce 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 Secretary of Commerce 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.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-01-08
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 557.
action_date: 2008-01-08
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/19/2007 with amendments. With written report No. 110-257.
action_date: 2008-01-08
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/19/2007 with amendments. With written report No. 110-257.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate