Pub. L. 110-161, div. B, tit. V, sec. 536

Sec. 536. This section may be cited as the “ED 1.0 Act”. (a) In this section:(1) The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.(2) 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));121 STAT. 1933(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) 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)).(b)(1)(A) There is established within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration a pilot program under which the Administrator shall award 9 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. The Administrator shall award not less than 1 grant to each type of eligible educational institution, enumerated under subsection (a)(2).(B)(i) The Administrator shall award a total of 9 grants under this subsection.(ii) The Administrator shall make grant payments under this subsection in the amount of $500,000.(2)(A) In awarding grants under this subsection 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, or other appropriate political subdivision where no counties exist—(i) in which 50 percent of the residents of the county, or other appropriate political subdivision where no counties exist, are members of a racial or ethnic minority;(ii) in which less than 18 percent of the residents of the county, or other appropriate political subdivision where no counties exist, have obtained a baccalaureate degree or a higher education;(iii) that has an unemployment rate of 7 percent or greater;(iv) in which 20 percent or more of the residents of the county, or other appropriate political subdivision where no counties exist, live in poverty;(v) that has a negative population growth rate; or(vi) that has a family income of not more than $32,000.(B) In awarding grants under this subsection the Administrator shall give the highest priority to an eligible educational institution that meets the greatest number of requirements described in clauses (i) through (vi) of subparagraph (A).(3) An eligible educational institution receiving a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds—(A) to acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking capability, hardware, software, digital network technology, wireless technology, or wireless infrastructure;(B) to develop and provide educational services, including faculty development; or(C) to develop strategic plans for information technology investments.(4) The Administrator shall not require an eligible educational institution to provide matching funds for a grant awarded under this subsection.(5)(A) The Administrator shall consult with the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 121 STAT. 1934 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, on a quarterly basis regarding the pilot program assisted under this subsection.(B) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to the committees described in subparagraph (A) a report evaluating the progress of the pilot program assisted under this subsection.(c) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $4,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.(d) The Administrator shall carry out this section only with amounts appropriated in advance specifically to carry out this section.