FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2007

TIA Applauds House for H.R. 694

Minority-Serving Digital and Wireless Technology Act fosters broadband deployment, equal opportunity in tech sector.

Arlington, Va. - TIA applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for voting last night to approve a bill that advances investment in broadband infrastructure and opportunities for access for minorities across the U.S. The U.S. House overwhelmingly supported H.R. 694, the Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Act of 2007, last night and TIA urges the Senate to do the same. In the world of technology convergence, next-generation networks are revolutionizing the way that we communicate with one another. It is imperative that all Americans have equal access to new technologies in order for the United States to compete in the global marketplace.

H.R. 694, authored by Representative Edolphus Towns (N.Y.-10), would provide up to $250 million in grants for minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions. The grants would go to HBCUs and similar institutions -- including institutions "with a sufficient enrollment of needy students" of all ethnicities, as defined under the Higher Education Act of 1965 -- for technology upgrades and infrastructure, in addition to funding services for technology degrees and educator training. The bill, if enacted, would require program assessment every three years by the National Academy of Public Administration.

TIA believes H.R. 694, which passed by a vote of 331-59, is a significant step toward accelerating broadband deployment, and also toward our stated goal of higher levels of minority management and ownership in the tech and telecom sectors as stated under our Diversity NXT program launched after this year's NXTcomm show.

For more information about TIA's broadband advocacy or DiversityNXT, please contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association is the leading trade association for vendors in the information, communications and entertainment technology industry. TIA serves suppliers to global markets through its leadership in standards development, domestic and international policy advocacy, and facilitating member business opportunities such as the co-owned NXTcomm. For more information, go to http://www.tiaonline.org.