By Fritz Edelstein
May 26, 2003

The Senate voted 97-0 April 30 to help bridge the so-called digital divide by bolstering technology instruction and upgrading equipment at minority'serving colleges and universities.

The bill (S 196) provides up to $250 million annually over the next five years to historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic'serving institutions and tribal colleges. The grants will be administered by the National Science Foundation and will be used to pay for technology training for students and teachers, and to purchase new digital and wireless network equipment. At present there is no companion measure in the House.