Building Resources Into Digital Growth and Education Act of 2019 or the BRIDGE Act of 2019
This bill establishes a digital network technology program to award grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to eligible institutions.
Specifically, the bill provides funds to historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions for the acquisition and use of broadband internet service to improve the quality and delivery of educational services. Such funds shall be used to provide training and education for students and faculty, obtain technical assistance, and create centers at institutions to support innovation and opportunity for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1586 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1586
To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Organization Act to establish a digital network technology program, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 7, 2019
Mr. Butterfield introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee
on Education and Labor, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Organization Act to establish a digital network technology program, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Building Resources Into Digital
Growth and Education Act of 2019'' or the ``BRIDGE Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``PART D--DIGITAL NETWORK TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
``SEC. 171. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
``The Secretary shall establish, within the Technology
Opportunities Program of the NTIA, a digital network technology program
through which the Secretary awards grants, cooperative agreements, and
contracts to eligible institutions to assist such institutions in
acquiring, and augmenting use by such institutions of, broadband
internet access service to improve the quality and delivery of
educational services provided by such institutions.
``SEC. 172. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.
``An eligible institution shall use a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement awarded under this part--
``(1) to acquire broadband internet access service, digital
network technology, and infrastructure to further the objective
of the program described in section 171;
``(2) to develop and provide training, education, and
professional development programs, including faculty
development, to increase the use of, and usefulness of,
broadband internet access service;
``(3) to provide teacher education, including the provision
of preservice teacher training and in-service professional
development at eligible institutions, library and media
specialist training, 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 process, including
instruction in science, mathematics, engineering, and
technology subjects;
``(4) to obtain capacity-building technical assistance,
including through remote technical support, technical
assistance workshops, and distance learning services;
``(5) to foster the use of broadband internet access
service to improve research and education, including
scientific, mathematics, engineering, and technology
instruction; or
``(6) to create or support centers at the eligible
institution designed to support innovation, opportunity, and
advancement for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
``SEC. 173. APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES.
``(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under this part, an eligible institution shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such
application, at a minimum, shall include a description of how the funds
will be used, including a description of any digital network technology
to be acquired, and a description of how the institution will ensure
that broadband internet access service will be made accessible to, and
employed by, students, faculty, and administrators. The Secretary, in
consultation with the advisory council established under subsection (b)
and consistent with subsection (c), shall establish procedures to
review such applications. The Secretary shall publish the application
requirements and review criteria in the Federal Register, along with a
statement describing the availability of funds.
``(b) 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 part, and on the procedures to review
applications submitted to the program. In selecting the members of the
advisory council, the Secretary shall consult with representatives of
appropriate organizations, including representatives of eligible
institutions, to ensure that the membership of the advisory council
includes representatives of minority businesses and eligible
institution communities. The Secretary shall also consult with experts
in digital network technology to ensure that such expertise is
represented on the advisory council.
``(c) 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
proposal, including the extent to which the eligible institution can
effectively and successfully utilize the proposed grant, cooperative
agreement, or contract to carry out the objective of the program
described in section 171. The Secretary shall ensure that the review
panels include representatives of eligible institutions and others who
are knowledgeable about eligible institutions and technology issues.
The Secretary shall ensure that no individual assigned under this
subsection to review any application has a conflict of interest with
regard to that application. The Secretary shall take into consideration
the recommendations of the review panel in determining whether to award
a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to an eligible institution.
``SEC. 174. AWARDS.
``(a) Limitation.--An eligible institution that receives a grant,
cooperative agreement, or contract under this part that exceeds
$2,500,000 shall not be eligible to receive another grant, cooperative
agreement, or contract under this part.
``(b) Consortia.--Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts
under this part may only be awarded to eligible institutions. Eligible
institutions may seek funding under this part for consortia, which may
include other eligible institutions, States or State educational
agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education,
community-based organizations, national nonprofit organizations, or
businesses, including minority businesses.
``(c) Coordination and Partnership With Private Providers.--In
seeking funding under this part, eligible institutions are encouraged,
where feasible, to coordinate and partner with qualified private
providers of the services and activities supported under section 172.
``(d) Institutional Diversity.--In awarding grants, cooperative
agreements, and contracts under this part to eligible institutions, the
Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that awards are made
to all types of institutions eligible for assistance under this part.
``(e) Need.--In awarding grants, cooperative agreements, and
contracts under this part, the Secretary shall give priority to the
eligible institution with the greatest demonstrated need for
assistance.
``SEC. 175. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.
``The Secretary shall convene an annual meeting of eligible
institutions receiving grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts
under this part to foster collaboration and capacity-building
activities among eligible institutions.
``SEC. 176. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.
``The Secretary may not award a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement to an eligible institution under this part unless such
institution agrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by
the institution in carrying out the program for which the grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement was awarded, such institution will
make available (directly or through donations from public or private
entities) non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 25 percent of
the amount of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded by
the Secretary, or $500,000, whichever is the lesser amount. The
Secretary shall waive the matching requirement for any institution or
consortium that, as of the date of the submission of the application
for the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, has no endowment or
an endowment the value of which is less than $50,000,000.
``SEC. 177. ANNUAL REPORT AND EVALUATION.
``(a) Annual Report Required From Recipients.--Each eligible
institution that receives a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement
under this part shall provide an annual report to the Secretary on its
use of the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
``(b) Independent Assessments.--
``(1) Contract to conduct assessments.--Not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this part, the
Secretary shall enter into a contract with the National Academy
of Public Administration to conduct periodic assessments of the
program established under this part. The assessments shall be
conducted once every 3 years during the 10-year period
following the date of the enactment of this part.
``(2) Evaluations and recommendations.--The assessments
described in paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
program established under this part in improving the
education and training of students, faculty, and staff
at eligible institutions that have been awarded grants,
cooperative agreements, or contracts under this part;
``(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
program in improving access to, and familiarity with,
digital network technology and broadband internet
access service for students, faculty, and staff at all
eligible institutions;
``(C) an evaluation of the procedures established
under section 173(a); and
``(D) recommendations for improving the program,
including recommendations concerning the continuing
need for Federal support.
``(3) Review of reports.--In carrying out the assessments
under this subsection, the National Academy of Public
Administration shall review the reports submitted to the
Secretary under subsection (a).
``(c) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of each assessment under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall transmit the assessment to Congress
along with a summary of the plans of the Secretary, if any, to
implement the recommendations of the National Academy of Public
Administration.''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 102(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901(a)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(6) The term `eligible institution' means--
``(A) an institution of higher education that is--
``(i) an institution described in section
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1067q(a));
``(ii) an institution described in section
326(e)(1) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1063b(e)(1));
``(iii) a minority institution (as defined
in section 365 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k))
that has an enrollment of needy students (as
defined in section 312(d) of such Act (20
U.S.C. 1058(d))); or
``(iv) an institution determined by the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary
of Education, to have a substantial enrollment
of minority students who are eligible to
receive Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of
part A of title IV of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1070a
et seq.); or
``(B) a consortium of institutions described in
subparagraph (A).
``(7) The term `digital network technology' means computer
and communications equipment and software that facilitates the
transmission of information in a digital format.
``(8) The term `minority' means an American Indian, Alaskan
Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including
persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South
American origin), or Pacific Islander individual.
``(9) The term `State' has the meaning given such term in
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(10) The term `State educational agency' has the meaning
given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(11) The term `institution of higher education' has the
meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
``(12) The term `local educational agency' has the meaning
given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(13) The term `broadband internet access service' means a
mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the
capability to transmit data to, and receive data from, all or
substantially all internet endpoints, including any
capabilities that are incidental to, and enable the operation
of, the communications service, but excluding dial-up internet
access service. Such term also includes any service the
Commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of
such service.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
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