Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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H.R.4477
Sponsor: Rep Towns, Edolphus(introduced 5/17/2000)
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2000 Referred to House subcommittee
Title: To establish a Digital Bridge Trust Fund to fund programs to improve the skills and career opportunities in information technology and related fields for individuals in underserved rural and urban communities, and for Native Americans, and for other purposes.
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TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
5/17/2000:
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Banking and Financial Services, 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.
5/17/2000:
Referred to House Commerce
6/7/2000:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
5/17/2000:
Referred to House Ways and Means
5/17/2000:
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
6/28/2000:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
5/17/2000:
Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
5/18/2000:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation.
5/17/2000:
Referred to House Banking and Financial Services
6/9/2000:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(13), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep Carson, Julia - 5/17/2000 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. - 5/17/2000
Rep Dingell, John D. - 5/17/2000 Rep Ford, Harold, Jr. - 5/17/2000
Rep Hilliard, Earl F. - 5/17/2000 Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 5/17/2000
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice - 5/17/2000 Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. - 5/17/2000
Rep Meek, Carrie P. - 5/17/2000 Rep Payne, Donald M. - 5/17/2000
Rep Rush, Bobby L. - 5/17/2000 Rep Waters, Maxine - 5/17/2000
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell - 5/17/2000

SUMMARY AS OF:
5/17/2000--Introduced.

Digital Bridge Trust Fund Act - Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to establish in the Treasury the Digital Bridge Trust Fund. Appropriates to the Fund 100 percent of the amounts received by the Treasury after FY 2000 as taxes on communications required under the Internal Revenue Code.

Establishes in the Department of Commerce the Board of Trustees of the Digital Bridge Trust Fund to make decisions with respect to allocations authorized under this Act. Requires the Board to submit annual reports to the President and Congress regarding its activities.

Requires the Board to ensure that assistance provided herein is: (1) made available for the benefit of rural and urban areas and Native Americans in a manner that targets such assistance for areas, communities, and populations that are underserved with respect to information technology needs, employment, and education; and (2) appropriately allocated. Directs the Board to make such assistance available for FY 2001 through 2010 for: (1) teacher training; (2) community technology centers; (3) neighborhood network learning centers; (4) the Technology Development Fund; (5) the Technology Opportunity Program; (6) rural, urban, and Native American technology training; (7) broadband network deployment; (8) the Home Internet Access Program; and (9) the Falling Through the Net survey (to determine the extent to which Americans have access to telephones, computers, and the Internet). Allows excess amounts to be allocated at the Board's discretion. Authorizes the Board, in any of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to reduce the amounts of assistance provided during the first five years.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2010. Repeals this Act on October 1, 2010.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 3 to 1.5 percent, as of October 1, 2000, the excise tax on telephone and other communications services. Expresses the sense of Congress that providers of communications services should not increase service rates based upon such reduction.