Senator Allen on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Jan. 17, 2003
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, today I rise with my colleagues—Senators MCCAIN, STEVENS, HOLLINGS and MILLER to introduce the Digital & Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003.

Access to the Internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Because of the rapid advancement and growing dependence on technology, being digitally connected becomes more essential to economic and educational advancement. 60 percent of all jobs require information technology skills and jobs in information technology pay significantly higher salaries than jobs in non-information technology fields. People who lack access to information technology tools are at an increasing disadvantage. Consequently, it is important that all institutions of higher education provide their students with access to the most current information technology and digital equipment.

As Governor of Virginia, I implemented a technology plan that created a blueprint of technology resources throughout the Virginia Community College System, VCCS. All 38 community college campuses are wired and each community college has a dedicated Commonwealth Classroom for compressed video distance education classes. Arrangements with Old Dominion University, Christopher Newport University, Virginia Tech and other institutions are offering senior level courses through distance education that actually take place on the community college campus.

Minority Serving Institutions, however, still lack basic information and digital technology infrastructure. A study completed by the Department of Commerce and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education showed that most Historically Black Colleges and Universities do not have high-speed Internet access, and only 3 percent of these colleges and universities indicated that financial aid was available to help their students close the computer ownership gap, the digital divide.

The Digital & Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003 seeks to address the technology gap that exists at many Minority Serving Institutions, MSIs. Our legislation establishes a new grant program within the National Science Foundation, NSF, that provides up to $250 million to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges bridge the digital divide.

The legislation allows eligible institutions the opportunity through grants, contracts or cooperative agreements to acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking capability, hardware and software, digital network technology and wireless technology/infrastructure, such as wireless fidelity or WiFi, to develop and provide educational services. Additionally, the grants could be used for such activities as equipment upgrades, technology training and hardware/software acquisition. A Minority Serving Institution also could use the funds to offer its students universal access to campus networks, dramatically increase their connectivity rates, or make necessary infrastructure improvements.

Virginia has five Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Hampton University, Norfolk State University, St. Paul's College, Virginia Union University and Virginia State University.

The best jobs in the future will go to those who are the best prepared. However, I am increasingly concerned that when it comes to high technology jobs which pay higher wages this country runs the risk of economically limiting many college students in our society. It is important for ALL Americans that we close this opportunity gap. Since my election to the Senate, my goal has always been to continue the work that I began as Governor, to look for ways to improve education, create jobs and seek out new opportunities to benefit Virginia and its citizens. By improving technology-education programs, we can accomplish all three for students throughout our nation.

I want to thank my colleagues for joining me today cosponsoring this legislation and look forward to working with fellow Senators to push this important measure across the goal-line so that many more college students are provided access to better technology and education, and most importantly, even greater opportunities in life.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.