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S. 3701 116th Congress Senate

Supporting Con­nec­tiv­ity for Higher Education Students in Need Act

Official title: A bill to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to promulgate regula… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to promulgate regulations to provide support to institutions of higher education for the provision of certain equipment and services to students of those institutions, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 19, 2020 Introduced by: Amy Klobuchar Democratic · Minnesota See on congress.gov
Education Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsCardiovascular and respiratory healthComputers and information technology
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of CommerceEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs fundingEducational technology and distance educationEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment trust fundsHigher educationInfectious and parasitic diseasesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMinority educationRural conditions and developmentStudent aid and college costs
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 12, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 12, 2020
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action May 12, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act

This bill establishes and provides funds for the Emergency Higher Education Connectivity Fund. Specifically, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must use the fund to support institutions of higher education (IHEs) in providing broadband internet access service, videoconferencing systems and services used for distance learning, and equipment (e.g., computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and other one-time costs) to enrolled students during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.

The bill requires the NTIA, in consultation with the Department of Education, to promulgate regulations within 14 days related to support for IHEs.

Among other things, the regulations must

  • prioritize support for IHEs that receive certain institutional grants, including historically Black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions, and rural-serving institutions;
  • require IHEs to prioritize support for students who are eligible for need-based financial aid; and
  • establish a schedule of reasonable per-student funding amounts for eligible services and equipment.
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 6814 Identical bill Supporting Con­nec­tiv­ity for Higher Education Students in Need Act
  • S 4131 Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Democratic 9 Independent 1
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jun 11, 2020
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · May 21, 2020
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · May 19, 2020
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · May 19, 2020
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · May 19, 2020
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · May 19, 2020
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · May 19, 2020
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · May 12, 2020
 D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · May 12, 2020
 D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · May 12, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3701: Supporting Con­nec­tiv­ity for Higher Education Students in Need Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3701/
MLA
"S. 3701: Supporting Con­nec­tiv­ity for Higher Education Students in Need Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3701/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3701, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3701/.
Markdown link
[S. 3701: Supporting Con­nec­tiv­ity for Higher Education Students in Need Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3701/)
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