,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aehf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #g1 #bjai,mr4 ,butterfield introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration ,organization ,act to establish a digital network technology program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,building ,resources ,into ,digital ,growth and ,education ,act of #bjai or the ,,bridge ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,establishment of program ,the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration ,organization ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ija et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,d ,digital ,network ,technology ,program #aga4 ,program authorized ,the ,secretary shall establish1 within the ,technology ,opportunities ,program of the ,,ntia1 a digital network technology program through which the ,secretary awards grants1 cooperative agreements1 and contracts to eligible institutions to assist such institutions in acquiring1 and augmenting use by such institutions of1 broadband internet access service to improve the quality and delivery of educational services provided by such institutions4 #agb4 ,activities supported ,an eligible institution shall use a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement awarded under this part-- 7#a7 to acquire broadband internet access service1 digital network technology1 and infrastructure to further the objective of the program described in section #aga2 7#b7 to develop and provide training1 education1 and professional development programs1 including faculty development1 to increase the use of1 and usefulness of1 broadband internet access service2 7#c7 to provide teacher education1 including the provision of preservice teacher training and in-service professional development at eligible institutions1 library and media specialist training1 and preschool and teacher aid certification to individuals who seek to acquire or enhance technology skills in order to use broadband internet access service in the classroom or instructional process1 including instruction in science1 mathematics1 engineering1 and technology subjects2 7#d7 to obtain capacity-building technical assistance1 including through remote technical support1 technical assistance workshops1 and distance learning services2 7#e7 to foster the use of broadband internet access service to improve research and education1 including scientific1 mathematics1 engineering1 and technology instruction2 or 7#f7 to create or support centers at the eligible institution designed to support innovation1 opportunity1 and advancement for entrepreneurs and start-ups4 #agc4 ,application and review procedures 7a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement under this part1 an eligible institution shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,such application1 at a minimum1 shall include a description of how the funds will be used1 including a description of any digital network technology to be acquired1 and a description of how the institution will ensure that broadband internet access service will be made accessible to1 and employed by1 students1 faculty1 and administrators4 ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the advisory council established under subsection 7b7 and consistent with subsection 7c71 shall establish procedures to review such applications4 ,the ,secretary shall publish the application requirements and review criteria in the ,federal ,register1 along with a statement describing the availability of funds4 7b7 ,advisory council ,the ,secretary shall establish an advisory council to advise the ,secretary on the best approaches to encourage maximum participation by eligible institutions in the program established under this part1 and on the procedures to review applications submitted to the program4 ,in selecting the members of the advisory council1 the ,secretary shall consult with representatives of appropriate organizations1 including representatives of eligible institutions1 to ensure that the membership of the advisory council includes representatives of minority businesses and eligible institution communities4 ,the ,secretary shall also consult with experts in digital network technology to ensure that such expertise is represented on the advisory council4 7c7 ,review panel ,each application submitted under this part by an eligible institution shall be reviewed by a panel of individuals selected by the ,secretary to judge the quality and merit of the proposal1 including the extent to which the eligible institution can effectively and successfully utilize the proposed grant1 cooperative agreement1 or contract to carry out the objective of the program described in section #aga4 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the review panels include representatives of eligible institutions and others who are knowledgeable about eligible institutions and technology issues4 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that no individual assigned under this subsection to review any application has a conflict of interest with regard to that application4 ,the ,secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the review panel in determining whether to award a grant1 cooperative agreement1 or contract to an eligible institution4 #agd4 ,awards 7a7 ,limitation ,an eligible institution that receives a grant1 cooperative agreement1 or contract under this part that exceeds #b1ejj1jjj shall not be eligible to receive another grant1 cooperative agreement1 or contract under this part4 7b7 ,consortia ,grants1 cooperative agreements1 and contracts under this part may only be awarded to eligible institutions4 ,eligible institutions may seek funding under this part for consortia1 which may include other eligible institutions1 ,states or ,state educational agencies1 local educational agencies1 institutions of higher education1 community-based organizations1 national nonprofit organizations1 or businesses1 including minority businesses4 7c7 ,coordination and partnership with private providers ,in seeking funding under this part1 eligible institutions are encouraged1 where feasible1 to coordinate and partner with qualified private providers of the services and activities supported under section #agb4 7d7 ,institutional diversity ,in awarding grants1 cooperative agreements1 and contracts under this part to eligible institutions1 the ,secretary shall ensure1 to the extent practicable1 that awards are made to all types of institutions eligible for assistance under this part4 7e7 ,need ,in awarding grants1 cooperative agreements1 and contracts under this part1 the ,secretary shall give priority to the eligible institution with the greatest demonstrated need for assistance4 #age4 ,information dissemination ,the ,secretary shall convene an annual meeting of eligible institutions receiving grants1 cooperative agreements1 or contracts under this part to foster collaboration and capacity-building activities among eligible institutions4 #agf4 ,matching requirement ,the ,secretary may not award a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement to an eligible institution under this part unless such institution agrees that1 with respect to the costs to be incurred by the institution in carrying out the program for which the grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement was awarded1 such institution will make available 7directly or through donations from public or private entities7 non-,federal contributions in an amount equal to #be percent of the amount of the grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement awarded by the ,secretary1 or #ejj1jjj1 whichever is the lesser amount4 ,the ,secretary shall waive the matching requirement for any institution or consortium that1 as of the date of the submission of the application for the grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement1 has no endowment or an endowment the value of which is less than #ej1jjj1jjj4 #agg4 ,annual report and evaluation 7a7 ,annual report required from recipients ,each eligible institution that receives a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement under this part shall provide an annual report to the ,secretary on its use of the grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement4 7b7 ,independent assessments 7#a7 ,contract to conduct assessments ,not later than #f months after the date of the enactment of this part1 the ,secretary shall enter into a contract with the ,national ,academy of ,public ,administration to conduct periodic assessments of the program established under this part4 ,the assessments shall be conducted once every #c years during the #aj-year period following the date of the enactment of this part4 7#b7 ,evaluations and recommendations ,the assessments described in paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program established under this part in improving the education and training of students1 faculty1 and staff at eligible institutions that have been awarded grants1 cooperative agreements1 or contracts under this part2 7,b7 an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in improving access to1 and familiarity with1 digital network technology and broadband internet access service for students1 faculty1 and staff at all eligible institutions2 7,c7 an evaluation of the procedures established under section #agc7;a72 and 7,d7 recommendations for improving the program1 including recommendations concerning the continuing need for ,federal support4 7#c7 ,review of reports ,in carrying out the assessments under this subsection1 the ,national ,academy of ,public ,administration shall review the reports submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,report to ,congress ,upon completion of each assessment under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall transmit the assessment to ,congress along with a summary of the plans of the ,secretary1 if any1 to implement the recommendations of the ,national ,academy of ,public ,administration4 4 #c4 ,definitions ,section #ajb7;a7 of the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration ,organization ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ija7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 ,the term eligible institution means-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education that is-- 7i7 an institution described in section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a772 7ii7 an institution described in section #cbf7;e77#a7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfc;b7e77#a772 7iii7 a minority institution 7as defined in section #cfe of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgk77 that has an enrollment of needy students 7as defined in section #cab7;d7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;d7772 or 7iv7 an institution determined by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 to have a substantial enrollment of minority students who are eligible to receive ,federal ,pell ,grants under subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a et seq472 or 7,b7 a consortium of institutions described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#g7 ,the term digital network technology means computer and communications equipment and software that facilitates the transmission of information in a digital format4 7#h7 ,the term minority means an ,american ,indian1 ,alaskan ,native1 ,black 7not of ,hispanic origin71 ,hispanic 7including persons of ,mexican1 ,puerto ,rican1 ,cuban1 and ,central or ,south ,american origin71 or ,pacific ,islander individual4 7#i7 ,the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#aj7 ,the term ,state educational agency has the meaning given such term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#aa7 ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#ab7 ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given such term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#ac7 ,the term broadband internet access service means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to1 and receive data from1 all or substantially all internet endpoints1 including any capabilities that are incidental to1 and enable the operation of1 the communications service1 but excluding dial-up internet access service4 ,such term also includes any service the ,commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of such service4 4