text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``ED 1.0 Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) Access to technology can improve grade and test 
          averages, graduation rates, and retention rates, in addition to 
          increasing the number of graduates in science and technology 
          disciplines.
              (2) Minority-serving institutions historically have an 
          important role in reaching an underserved population, and 
          minority-serving institutions in economically disadvantaged 
          areas face particular hardships in acquiring funds to sustain 
          and expand their technological resources.
              (3) Low-income areas are technologically underserved.
              (4) Congress and the technological community should do all 
          they can to find new and creative ways to bridge the current 
          technology gap.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
          Administrator of the National Telecommunications and 
          Information Administration.
              (2) Eligible educational institution.--The term ``eligible 
          educational institution'' means an institution that is--
                      (A) a historically Black college or university;
                      (B) a Hispanic-serving institution as that term is 
                  defined in section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education 
                  Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5));
                      (C) a tribally controlled college or university as 
                  that term is defined in section 2(a)(4) of the Tribally 
                  Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978 
                  (25 U.S.C. 1801(a)(4));
                      (D) an Alaska Native-serving institution as that 
                  term is defined in section 317(b)(2) of the Higher 
                  Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(2)); or
                      (E) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution as that 
                  term is defined in section 317(b)(4) of the Higher 
                  Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(4)).
              (3) Historically black college or university.--The term 
          ``historically Black college or university'' means a part B 
          institution as that term is defined in section 322(2) of the 
          Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).
  
  SEC. 4. MINORITY ONLINE DEGREE PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Pilot Program Established.--
              (1) In general.--There is established within the National 
          Telecommunications and Information Administration a pilot 
          program under which the Administrator shall award 4 grants to 
          eligible educational institutions to enable the eligible 
          educational institutions to develop digital and wireless 
          networks for online educational programs of study within the 
          eligible educational institutions.
              (2) Grant number, duration, and amount.--
                      (A) Number.--The Administrator shall award a total 
                  of 4 grants under this section.
                      (B) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall 
                  be awarded for a period of 6 years.
                      (C) Annual grant payment amounts.--The 
                  Administrator shall make grant payments under this 
                  section in the amount of--
                              (i) $1,000,000 for the first fiscal year of 
                          a grant awarded under this section;
                              (ii) $600,000 for each of the second 
                          through fifth such fiscal years; and
                              (iii) $100,000 for the sixth such fiscal 
                          year.
      (b) Priority.--
              (1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section the 
          Administrator shall give priority to an eligible educational 
          institution that, according to the most recent data available 
          (including data available from the Bureau of the Census), 
          serves a county--
                      (A) in which 50 percent of the residents of the 
                  county are members of a racial or ethnic minority;
                      (B) in which less than 18 percent of the residents 
                  of the county have obtained a baccalaureate degree or a 
                  higher education;
                      (C) that has an unemployment rate of 7 percent or 
                  greater;
                      (D) in which 19 percent or more of the residents of 
                  the county live in poverty;
                      (E) that has a negative population growth rate; or
                      (F) that has a median family income of $32,000.
              (2) Highest priority.--In awarding grants under this 
          section the Administrator shall give the highest priority to an 
          eligible educational institution that meets the greatest number 
          of requirements described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of 
          paragraph (1).
      (c) Use of Funds.--An eligible educational institution receiving a 
  grant under this section may use the grant funds--
              (1) to acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking 
          capability, hardware, software, digital network technology, 
          wireless technology, or wireless infrastructure;
              (2) to develop and provide educational services, including 
          faculty development; or
              (3) to develop strategic plans for information technology 
          investments.
      (d) Matching Not Required.--The Administrator shall not require an 
  eligible educational institution to provide matching funds for a grant 
  awarded under this section.
      (e) Report.--Not later than November 1 of each year, the 
  Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
  Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
  of the House of Representatives, a report evaluating the progress, 
  during the preceding fiscal year, of the pilot program assisted under 
  this section.
      (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
              (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
          carry out this section--
                      (A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                      (B) $2,400,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 
                  through 2012; and
                      (C) $500,000 for fiscal year 2013.
              (2) Availability.--Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) 
          shall remain available until expended.
      (g) Limitation on Use of Other Funds.--The Administrator shall 
  carry out this section only with amounts appropriated in advance 
  specifically to carry out this section.
target: ED 1.0 Act - Establishes a pilot program requiring the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to award six-year grants to four minority-serving educational institutions, enabling them to develop digital and wireless networks for online programs of study within the institutions.
  
  Gives grant priority to institutions serving counties: (1) that meet specified criteria of economic depression; (2) less than 18% of whose residents have a higher education; and (3) at least half of whose residents are minorities.
feat_title: A bill to establish digital and wireless networks to advance online higher education opportunities for minority students.