Both chambers of Congress have passed a technology bill for MSIs. Now they need to bridge their differences to bridge the digital divide at MSIs. 

After four years of fits and starts, minority- serving colleges may have their best opportunity yet in 2007 to secure congressional passage of a bill to address the digital divide at historically Black colleges, tribal colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions.

The full House approved the Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Act in September. It would authorize $250 million for the first year of a multi-year program aimed at helping HB- CUs, HSIs and others build their technology infrastructure and deliver training and resources to instructors and students.

“Students enrolled in HBCUs need all of the necessary state-of-the-art tools that will allow them to compete in a global society,” said Rep. Ed Towns, D-N.Y., a Congressional Black Caucus member and co-sponsor of the plan along with Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va. Among other uses, colleges could utilize the funds to:

• purchase digital and wireless networking technologies and equipment for campus wiring;
• develop new technology education services;
• provide technical assistance through washingtonupdate| face-to-face and distance learning workshops;
• provide professional development to faculty and administrators; and
• implement joint projects with other MSIs on technology education.

“Given their contributions to our society, we must do all we can to make sure that MSIs receive the most modern technology to keep up with other universities,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., another CBC member. According to Scott, fewer than half of students at minority-serving institutions own computers, and some colleges lack high-speed Internet access.