In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Breast Cancer and Environmental 
Research Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer 
        deaths among American women.
            (2) More women in the United States are living with breast 
        cancer than any other cancer (excluding skin cancer). 
        Approximately 3,000,000 women in the United States are living 
        with breast cancer, about 2,000,000 of which have been 
        diagnosed and an estimated 1,000,000 who do not yet know that 
        they have the disease.
            (3) Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer 
        among women in the United States and worldwide (excluding skin 
        cancer). In 2005, it is estimated that 269,730 new cases of 
        breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United 
        States, 211,240 invasive breast cancers and 58,490 cases of 
        ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
            (4) Approximately 40,410 women in the United States will 
        die from the disease in 2005. Breast cancer is the leading 
        cause of cancer death for women in the United States between 
        the ages of 20 and 59, and the leading cause of cancer death 
        for women worldwide.
            (5) A woman who lives into her 80s in the United States has 
        a 1 in 7 chance of developing invasive breast cancer in her 
        lifetime. This risk was 1 in 11 in 1975. In 2005, a new case of 
        breast cancer will be diagnosed every 2 minutes and a woman 
        will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes.
            (6) All women are at risk for breast cancer. About 90 
        percent of women who develop breast cancer do not have a family 
        history of the disease.
            (7) The National Action Plan on Breast Cancer, a public 
        private partnership, has recognized the importance of expanding 
        the scope and breadth of biomedical, epidemiological, and 
        behavioral research activities related to the etiology of 
        breast cancer and the role of the environment.
            (8) To date, there has been only a limited research 
        investment to expand the scope or coordinate efforts across 
        disciplines or work with the community to study the role of the 
        environment in the development of breast cancer.
            (9) In 2003, the National Institute of Environmental Health 
        Sciences awarded grants to four research centers to begin to 
        study the prenatal-to-adult environmental exposures that may 
        predispose a woman to breast cancer. The currently funded 
        research is examining the mammary tissue in animals and young 
        girls and study the subjects' life exposures to environmental, 
        nutritional, and social factors that impact menarche. Early 
        menarche, beginning menstruation before the age of 12, has been 
        shown to increase breast cancer risk later in life.
            (10) The National Cancer Institute and the National 
        Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have paired together 
        to make those four centers possible. The two institutes work 
        well together, combining their respective areas of expertise to 
        the best advantage of the research.
            (11) In order to take full advantage of the tremendous 
        potential for avenues of prevention, the Federal investment in 
        the role of the environment and the development of breast 
        cancer should be expanded. The research conducted at the four 
        centers, while critically important, is one small facet of the 
        many issues that must be addressed in order to gauge the link 
        between environmental factors and breast cancer.
            (12) In order to understand the effect of chemicals and 
        radiation on the development of cancer, multi-generational, 
        prospective studies are probably required.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES; AWARDS FOR 
              DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF RESEARCH CENTERS REGARDING 
              ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED TO BREAST CANCER.

    Subpart 12 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 285l et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
section:

``SEC. 463C. RESEARCH CENTERS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED 
              TO BREAST CANCER.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the Institute, based on 
recommendations from the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel 
established under subsection (b) (referred to in this section as the 
`Panel'), shall make grants, after a process of peer review and 
programmatic review, to public or nonprofit private entities for the 
development and operation of not more than 8 centers for the purpose of 
conducting multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on 
environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast 
cancer. Each such center shall be known as a Breast Cancer and 
Environmental Research Center of Excellence.
    ``(b) Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
        Institute of Environmental Health Sciences a Breast Cancer and 
        Environmental Research Panel.
            ``(2) Composition.--The Panel shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) 9 members to be appointed by the Secretary, 
                of which--
                            ``(i) six members shall be appointed from 
                        among physicians, and other health 
                        professionals, who--
                                    ``(I) are not officers or employees 
                                of the United States;
                                    ``(II) represent multiple 
                                disciplines, including clinical, basic, 
                                and public health sciences;
                                    ``(III) represent different 
                                geographical regions of the United 
                                States;
                                    ``(IV) are from practice settings 
                                or academia or other research settings; 
                                and
                                    ``(V) are experienced in biomedical 
                                review; and
                            ``(ii) three members shall be appointed 
                        from the general public who are representatives 
                        of individuals who have had breast cancer and 
                        who represent a constituency; and
                    ``(B) such nonvoting, ex officio members as the 
                Secretary determines to be appropriate.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--The members of the Panel appointed 
        under paragraph (2)(A) shall select a chairperson from among 
        such members.
            ``(4) Meetings.--The Panel shall meet at the call of the 
        chairperson or upon the request of the Director, but in no case 
        less often than once each year.
            ``(5) Duties.--The Panel shall--
                    ``(A) oversee the peer review process for the 
                awarding of grants under subsection (a) and conduct the 
                programmatic review under such subsection;
                    ``(B) make recommendations with respect to the 
                funding criteria and mechanisms under which amounts 
                will be allocated under this section; and
                    ``(C) make final programmatic recommendations with 
                respect to grants under this section.
    ``(c) Collaboration With Community.--Each center under subsection 
(a) shall establish and maintain ongoing collaborations with community 
organizations in the geographic area served by the center, including 
those that represent women with breast cancer.
    ``(d) Coordination of Centers; Reports.--The Director of the 
Institute shall, as appropriate, provide for the coordination of 
information among centers under subsection (a) and ensure regular 
communication between such centers, and may require the periodic 
preparation of reports on the activities of the centers and the 
submission of the reports to the Director.
    ``(e) Required Consortium.--Each center under subsection (a) shall 
be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions, meeting such 
requirements as may be prescribed by the Director of the Institute. 
Each center shall require collaboration among highly accomplished 
scientists, other health professionals and advocates of diverse 
backgrounds from various areas of expertise.
    ``(f) Duration of Support.--Support of a center under subsection 
(a) may be for a period not exceeding 5 years. Such period may be 
extended for one or more additional periods not exceeding 5 years if 
the operations of such center have been reviewed by an appropriate 
technical and scientific peer review group established by the Director 
of the Institute and if such group has recommended to the Director that 
such period should be extended.
    ``(g) Geographic Distribution of Centers.--The Director of the 
Institute shall, to the extent practicable, provide for an equitable 
geographical distribution of centers under this section.
    ``(h) Innovative Approaches.--Each center under subsection (a) 
shall use innovative approaches to study unexplored or under-explored 
areas of the environment and breast cancer.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2011. Such authorization is 
in addition to any other authorization of appropriations that is 
available for such purpose.''.

A: Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of not more than eight centers to conduct multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. Requires each such center to: (1) be known as a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Center of Excellence; (2) establish ongoing collaborations with community organizations; (3) be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions; (4) be supported under this Act for a period of not more than five years with additional periods allowed after review and recommendation; and (5) use innovative approaches to study unexplored areas of the environment and breast cancer.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel to make recommendations for and to review grants awarded under this Act.
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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Effective Antibiotics Last 
Act of 2015'' or the ``HEAL Act''.

SEC. 2. APPROVAL OF CERTAIN DRUGS FOR USE IN A WELL-DEFINED POPULATION 
              OF PATIENTS.

    (a) Approval of Certain Antibacterial.--Section 505 of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(x) Approval of Certain Antibacterial Drugs for Use in a Well-
Defined Population of Patients.--
            ``(1) Unmet medical need defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `unmet medical need' means that the antibacterial drug 
        involved--
                    ``(A) has improved efficacy, as demonstrated in 
                adequate, well-controlled studies in humans, for 
                specific diseases or conditions, where current 
                therapies have been shown to be less effective;
                    ``(B) has clinically meaningful decreased harms, 
                demonstrated in adequate, well-controlled studies in 
                humans, for diseases or conditions, where current 
                therapies have unacceptable adverse effects; or
                    ``(C) has improved convenience, as demonstrated in 
                adequate, well-controlled studies in humans, where 
                improved convenience results in improved effectiveness 
                or decreased harms.
            ``(2) Approval.--Upon receipt of an application under 
        subsection (b) for an antibacterial drug that is intended to 
        treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, 
        irrespective of whether the drug is intended to address an 
        unmet medical need, the Secretary--
                    ``(A) may approve the drug under subsection (c) 
                only for treating a well-defined population of 
                patients, and based upon the results of clinical trials 
                inclusive of human subjects representative of such 
                well-defined population;
                    ``(B) in determining whether to grant such 
                approval, shall rely on superior outcomes over 
                available therapies based on direct measures of patient 
                benefits, as demonstrated in adequate, well-controlled 
                studies in the well-defined patient population, such 
                as--
                            ``(i) decreased mortality;
                            ``(ii) irreversible morbidity; or
                            ``(iii) validated surrogate endpoints that 
                        reflect mortality or irreversible morbidity; 
                        and
                    ``(C) shall require the labeling of drugs approved 
                pursuant to this subsection to prominently include in 
                the prescribing information required by section 201.57 
                of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
                successor regulation)--
                            ``(i) the population of patients with 
                        respect to which the added benefit over 
                        available therapies is expected as studied in 
                        adequate, well-controlled studies that form the 
                        basis for approval; and
                            ``(ii) the method for identifying members 
                        of that population.
            ``(3) Risk evaluation and mitigation strategy.--The 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall require a risk evaluation and 
                mitigation strategy (REMS) under section 505-1 for each 
                drug approved under this subsection; and
                    ``(B) may include in any such strategy additional 
                elements to assure the safe use of the drug under 
                subsections (e) and (f) of section 505-1.
            ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        shall be construed to alter the standards of evidence under 
        subsection (c) or (d) (including the substantial evidence 
        standard in subsection (d)). Subsections (c) and (d) and such 
        standards of evidence apply to the review and approval of drugs 
        under this subsection, including whether a drug is safe and 
        effective. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
        limit the authority of the Secretary to approve products 
        pursuant to this Act and the Public Health Service Act as 
        authorized prior to the date of enactment of this subsection.
            ``(5) Effective immediately.--The Secretary shall have the 
        authorities vested in the Secretary by this subsection 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection, 
        irrespective of when and whether the Secretary promulgates 
        final regulations to carry out this subsection.''.
    (b) Licensure of Certain Biological Products.--Section 351(j) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(j)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(j)'' and inserting ``(j)(1)'';
            (2) by inserting ``505(x),'' after ``505(p),''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) In applying section 505(x) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act to the licensure of biological products under this 
section--
            ``(A) references to an antibacterial drug with added 
        benefits over available therapies for a well-defined population 
        that is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease 
        or condition shall be construed to refer to biological products 
        with added benefits over available therapies for a well-defined 
        population intended to treat a bacterial infection associated 
        with a serious or life-threatening disease; and
            ``(B) references to an application submitted under section 
        505(b) of such Act and to approval of a drug under section 
        505(c) of such Act shall be construed to refer to an 
        application submitted under subsection (a) of this section and 
        to licensure of a biological product under such subsection (a), 
        respectively.''.
    (c) Monitoring.--Title III of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by inserting after section 317T (42 U.S.C. 247b-22) the 
following:

``SEC. 317U. MONITORING OF ANTIBACTERIAL DRUG USE, PATIENT OUTCOMES, 
              AND RESISTANCE.

    ``(a) Monitoring.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall use the National 
Healthcare Safety Network or another appropriate monitoring system to 
monitor--
            ``(1) changes in patient outcomes such as mortality and 
        irreversible morbidity causally related to antibacterial 
        resistance; and
            ``(2) changes in bacterial resistance to drugs in relation 
        to patient outcomes.
    ``(b) Public Availability of Data.--The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall 
make the data derived from monitoring under this section publicly 
available for the purposes of--
            ``(1) improving the monitoring of important trends in 
        patient outcomes in relation to antibacterial resistance; and
            ``(2) ensuring appropriate stewardship of antibacterial 
        drugs, including those receiving approval or licensure for a 
        well-defined population pursuant to section 505(x) of the 
        Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.''.

SEC. 3. SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST INTERPRETIVE CRITERIA FOR MICROBIAL 
              ORGANISMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 511 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360a) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 511. SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST INTERPRETIVE CRITERIA FOR MICROBIAL 
              ORGANISMS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) identify upon approval or licensing of antibacterial 
        drugs (including biological products intended to treat a 
        bacterial infection and other types of antimicrobial drugs, as 
        deemed appropriate by the Secretary), including qualified 
        infectious disease products, susceptibility test interpretive 
        criteria for such drugs based upon patient outcomes of 
        mortality and morbidity from adequate and well-controlled 
        studies and such other confirmatory evidence as the Secretary 
        deems necessary; and
            ``(2) update, consistent with subsection (b), such criteria 
        as needed based upon scientific evidence of changes in patient 
        outcomes.
    ``(b) Responding to Changes in Patient Outcomes To Evaluate 
Susceptibility Test Interpretive Criteria.--
            ``(1) In general.--As needed based on evidence related to 
        changes in patient outcomes, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) evaluate any new scientific studies on 
                changes in patient outcomes in relation to 
                susceptibility test interpretive criteria; and
                    ``(B) publish on the public Website of the Food and 
                Drug Administration a notice--
                            ``(i) presenting suggested new or updated 
                        interpretive criteria; and
                            ``(ii) if needed, hold a public advisory 
                        committee to discuss scientific evidence 
                        related to changes in interpretative criteria.
            ``(2) Annual compilation of notices.--Each year, the 
        Secretary shall compile the notices published under paragraph 
        (1)(B) noting any changes from prior notices and publish such 
        compilation in the Federal Register.
    ``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `susceptibility test 
interpretive criteria' means one or more specific values which 
characterize patient outcomes in relation to the degree to which 
bacteria or other microbes are more resistant to treatment as measured 
by patient outcomes.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1111 of the Food and Drug 
Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 247d-5a; relating to 
identification of clinically susceptible concentrations of 
antimicrobials) is repealed.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate a report on the progress made in implementing 
section 511 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
360a), as amended by this section.

SEC. 4. REQUIRING DEMONSTRATION OF SUPERIOR OUTCOMES FOR QUALIFIED 
              INFECTIOUS DISEASE PRODUCTS TO RECEIVE AN EXTENDED 
              EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD.

    Section 505E(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
U.S.C. 355f(g)) is amended by striking ``means an antibacterial or 
antifungal drug for human use intended to treat'' and inserting ``means 
an antibacterial or antifungal drug for human use that is demonstrated 
to produce superior outcomes over available therapies, based on direct 
measures of patient benefits in clinical trials, and that is intended 
to treat''.

SEC. 5. GUIDANCE ON TARGET PRODUCT PROFILES.

    Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the 
Director of the Indian Health Service, the Secretary of Defense, and 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall issue guidance on the 
development of target product profiles for novel antibacterial drugs 
focused on public health priorities.

A: Helping Effective Antibiotics Last Act of 2015 or the HEAL Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve an antibacterial drug or biological product that is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition only for treating a well-defined population of patients. To be approved, the antibacterial product must produce superior outcomes over available therapies in the well-defined patient population. A product approved by this pathway must include in its prescribing information the population of patients expected to benefit from using the product and the method for identifying members of that population. The FDA must require each product to have a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must monitor changes to bacterial drug resistance and changes to patient outcomes caused by bacterial drug resistance. Upon approval of antibacterial products, the FDA must identify susceptibility test interpretive criteria (the drug concentrations where a type of bacteria is categorized as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant) and update the criteria as needed based upon evidence of changes in patient outcomes.  To be eligible for an exclusivity period extension, a qualified infectious disease product must be demonstrated to produce superior outcomes over available therapies. The FDA must issue guidance on the development of target product profiles for antibacterial drugs.
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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Information and 
Communications Technology Research Act''.

SEC. 2. SPECTRUM-SHARING INNOVATION TESTBED.

    (a) Spectrum-Sharing Plan.--Within 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission and the 
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, in 
coordination with other Federal agencies, shall--
            (1) develop a plan to increase sharing of spectrum between 
        Federal and non-Federal government users; and
            (2) establish a pilot program for implementation of the 
        plan.
    (b) Technical Specifications.--The Commission and the Assistant 
Secretary--
            (1) shall each identify a segment of spectrum of equal 
        bandwidth within their respective jurisdiction for the pilot 
        program that is approximately 10 megaHertz in width for 
        assignment on a shared basis to Federal and non-Federal 
        government use; and
            (2) may take the spectrum for the pilot program from bands 
        currently allocated on either an exclusive or shared basis.
    (c) Report.--The Commission and the Assistant Secretary shall 
transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and 
Commerce 2 years after the inception of the pilot program describing 
the results of the program and suggesting appropriate procedures for 
expanding the program as appropriate.

SEC. 3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INNOVATION ACCELERATION.

    (a) Program.--In order to accelerate the pace of innovation with 
respect to telecommunications services (as defined in section 3(46) of 
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153(46)), equipment, and 
technology, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall--
            (1) establish a program linked to the goals and objectives 
        of the measurement laboratories, to be known as the 
        ``Telecommunications Standards and Technology Acceleration 
        Research Program'', to support and promote innovation in the 
        United States through high-risk, high-reward telecommunications 
        research; and
            (2) set aside, from funds available to the measurement 
        laboratories, an amount equal to not less than 8 percent of the 
        funds available to the Institute each fiscal year for such 
        Program.
    (b) External Funding.--The Director shall ensure that at least 80 
percent of the funds available for such Program shall be used to award 
competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative agreements, or 
contracts to public or private entities, including businesses and 
universities. In selecting entities to receive such assistance, the 
Director shall ensure that the project proposed by an entity has 
scientific and technical merit and that any resulting intellectual 
property shall vest in a United States entity that can commercialize 
the technology in a timely manner. Each external project shall involve 
at least one small or medium-sized business and the Director shall give 
priority to joint ventures between small or medium-sized businesses and 
educational institutions. Any grant shall be for a period not to exceed 
3 years.
    (c) Competitions.--The Director shall solicit proposals annually to 
address areas of national need for high-risk, high-reward 
telecommunications research, as identified by the Director.
    (d) Annual Report.--Each year the Director shall issue an annual 
report describing the program's activities, including include a 
description of the metrics upon which grant funding decisions were made 
in the previous fiscal year, any proposed changes to those metrics, 
metrics for evaluating the success of ongoing and completed grants, and 
an evaluation of ongoing and completed grants. The first annual report 
shall include best practices for management of programs to stimulate 
high-risk, high-reward telecommunications research.
    (e) Administrative Expenses.--No more than 5 percent of the finding 
available to the program may be used for administrative expenses.
    (f) High-Risk, High-Reward Telecommunications Research Defined.--In 
this section, the term ``high-risk, high-reward telecommunications 
research'' means research that--
            (1) has the potential for yielding results with far-ranging 
        or wide-ranging implications;
            (2) addresses critical national needs related to 
        measurement standards and technology; and
            (3) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of 
        disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review 
        process.

SEC. 4. ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR ALL AMERICANS.

    The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall continue to support research and support standards development in 
advanced information and communications technologies focused on 
enhancing or facilitating the availability and affordability of 
advanced communications services to all Americans, in order to 
implement the Institute's responsibilities under section 2(c)(12) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
272(c)(12)). The Director shall support intramural research and 
cooperative research with institutions of higher education (as defined 
in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a)) and industry.

SEC. 5. ADVANCED INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.

    (a) Information and Communications Technology Research.--The 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall establish a program 
of basic research in advanced information and communications 
technologies focused on enhancing or facilitating the availability and 
affordability of advanced communications services to all Americans. In 
developing and carrying out the program, the Director shall consult 
with the Board established under subsection (b).
    (b) Federal Advanced Information and Communications Technology 
Research Board.--There is established within the National Science 
Foundation a Federal Advanced Information and Communications Technology 
Board which shall advise the Director of the National Science 
Foundation in carrying out the program authorized by subsection (a). 
The Board Shall be composed of individuals with expertise in 
information and communications technologies, including representatives 
from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
the Federal Communications Commission, the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Department of Defense, and 
representatives from industry and educational institutions.
    (c) Grant Program.--The Director, in consultation with the Board, 
shall award grants for basic research into advanced information and 
communications technologies that will contribute to enhancing or 
facilitating the availability and affordability of advanced 
communications services to all Americans. Areas of research to be 
supported through these grants include--
            (1) affordable broadband access, including wireless 
        technologies;
            (2) network security and reliability;
            (3) communications interoperability;
            (4) networking protocols and architectures, including 
        resilience to outages or attacks;
            (5) trusted software;
            (6) privacy;
            (7) nanoelectronics for communications applications;
            (8) low-power communications electronics;
            (9) such other related areas as the Director, in 
        consultation with the Board, finds appropriate; and
            (10) implementation of equitable access to national 
        advanced fiber optic research and educational networks, 
        including access in noncontiguous States.
    (d) Centers.--The Director shall award multiyear grants, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, to institutions of higher education 
(as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001(a)), nonprofit research institutions affiliated with 
institutions of higher education, or consortia thereof to establish 
multidisciplinary Centers for Communications Research. The purpose of 
the Centers shall be to generate innovative approaches to problems in 
communications and information technology research, including the 
research areas described in subsection (c). Institutions of higher 
education, nonprofit research institutions affiliated with institutions 
of higher education, or consortia receiving such grants may partner 
with 1 or more government laboratories or for-profit entities, or other 
institutions of higher education or nonprofit research institutions.
    (e) Applications.--The Director, in consultation with the Board, 
shall establish criteria for the award of grants under subsections (c) 
and (d). Grants shall be awarded under the program on a merit-reviewed 
competitive basis. The Director shall give priority to grants that 
offer the potential for revolutionary rather than evolutionary 
breakthroughs.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section--
            (1) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (2) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (3) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (4) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (5) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

A:
Advanced Information and Communications Technology Research Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to develop a plan to increase sharing of spectrum between federal and nonfederal government users and establish a implementation pilot program.

Requires the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish the Telecommunications Standards and Technology Acceleration Research Program to support and promote innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward telecommunications research.

Requires the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a program of basic research in advanced information and communications technologies focused on enhancing or facilitating the availability and affordability of advanced communications services to all Americans. Requires related grants.
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