S 257
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 257
To improve certain programs of the Small Business Administration
to better assist small business customers in accessing broadband technology,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 2, 2011
Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself and Mr. KERRY) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
A BILL
To improve certain programs of the Small Business Administration
to better assist small business customers in accessing broadband technology,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Small Business Broadband and Emerging
Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that, according to a report by the Federal Communications
Commission entitled `Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan',
dated March 2010, the Commission recommends that--
(1) `To fully implement next-generation technology within its operations,
the SBA should also appoint a broadband and emerging IT coordinator.
This individual would ensure that SBA programs maintain the requisite
broadband expertise, tools and training courses to serve small businesses.';
(2) `Congress should consider ways to leverage existing assistance
provided through' entrepreneurial development programs, `to focus
training on advanced IT and broadband applications';
(3) `Congress could also consider ways to support technology training
among women entrepreneurs through' women's business centers;
(4) `The training programs should include an entry-level `Broadband
101' course to give small businesses an introduction to how to capitalize
on broadband connectivity, as well as more advanced applications for
IT staff.';
(5) small and medium enterprise `IT training should include resources
for non-IT staff, such as how to use e-commerce tools for sales, streamline
finance with online records or leverage knowledge management across
an organization.'; and
(6) `To facilitate the development of broadband networks, Congress
should consider allowing all agencies to set the fees for access to
rights-of-way for broadband services on the basis of a direct cost
recovery approach, especially in markets currently underserved or
unserved by any broadband service provider. The Executive Branch should
also develop one or more master contracts for all federal property
and buildings covering the placement of wireless towers.'.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
(1) the terms `Administration' and `Administrator' mean the Small
Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively;
and
(2) the term `small business concern' has the meaning given that term
under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
SEC. 4. BROADBAND AND EMERGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR.
(a) In General- The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 45 as section 46; and
(2) by inserting after section 44 the following:
`SEC. 45. BROADBAND AND EMERGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
`(a) Definition- In this section, the term `broadband and emerging information
technology coordinator' means the individual assigned the broadband
and emerging information technology coordination responsibilities of
the Administration under subsection (b)(1).
`(b) Assignment of Coordinator-
`(1) ASSIGNMENT OF COORDINATOR- The Administrator shall assign responsibility
for coordinating the programs and activities of the Administration
relating to broadband and emerging information technology to an individual
who--
`(A) shall report directly to the Administrator;
`(B) shall work in coordination with--
`(i) the chief information officer, the chief technology officer,
and the head of the Office of Technology of the Administration;
and
`(ii) any Associate Administrator of the Administration determined
appropriate by the Administrator;
`(C) has experience developing and implementing telecommunications
policy in the private sector or government; and
`(D) has demonstrated significant experience in the area of broadband
or emerging information technology.
`(2) RESPONSIBILITIES OF COORDINATOR- The broadband and emerging information
technology coordinator shall--
`(A) coordinate programs of the Administration that assist small
business concerns in adopting, making innovations in, and using
broadband and other emerging information technologies;
`(B) serve as the primary liaison of the Administration to other
Federal agencies involved in broadband and emerging information
technology policy, including the Department of Commerce, the Department
of Agriculture, and the Federal Communications Commission; and
`(C) identify best practices relating to broadband and emerging
information technology that may benefit small business concerns.
`(3) TRAVEL- Not more than 20 percent of the hours of service by the
broadband and emerging information technology coordinator during any
fiscal year shall consist of travel outside the United States to perform
official duties.
`(c) Broadband and Emerging Technology Training-
`(1) TRAINING- The Administrator shall provide to employees of the
Administration training that--
`(A) familiarizes employees of the Administration with broadband
and other emerging information technologies; and
`(i) instruction counseling small business concerns regarding
adopting, making innovations in, and using broadband and other
emerging information technologies; and
`(ii) information on programs of the Federal Government that provide
assistance to small business concerns relating to broadband and
emerging information technologies.
`(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
`(1) BIENNIAL REPORT ON ACTIVITIES- Not later than 2 years after the
date on which the Administrator makes the first assignment of responsibilities
under subsection (b), and every 2 years thereafter, the broadband
and emerging information technology coordinator shall submit to the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and
the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a
report regarding the programs and activities of the Administration
relating to broadband and other emerging information technologies.
`(2) REPORT ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS- Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this section, the broadband and emerging information
technology coordinator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information,
and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, shall submit
to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate
and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives
a report on the programs of the Federal Government that provide assistance
to small business concerns relating to broadband and emerging information
technologies, which shall include recommendations, if any, for improving
coordination among the programs.'.
(b) Elimination of Vacant Position Required-
(1) ELIMINATION- Before assigning the first broadband and emerging
technologies coordinator under section 45 of the Small Business Act,
as added by subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall--
(A) identify a position within the Administration that is--
(i) vacant on the date of enactment of this Act; and
(ii) required to be filled by an employee in the Senior Executive
Service or at GS-15 of the General Schedule; and
(B) eliminate the position identified under subparagraph (A).
(2) RESTRICTION- For purposes of paragraph (1), the Administrator
may not eliminate a position established by the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.), the Small Business Investment Act 1958 (15
U.S.C. 661 et seq.), or any Federal statute.
SEC. 5. ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT.
Section 21(c)(3)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(c)(3)(B))
is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting `accessing broadband
and other emerging information technology,' after `technology transfer,';
(2) in clause (ii), by striking `and' at the end;
(3) in clause (iii), by adding `and' at the end; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
`(iv) increasing the competitiveness and productivity of small business
concerns by assisting entrepreneurs in accessing broadband and other
emerging information technology;'.
SEC. 6. CAPITAL ACCESS.
(a) In General- Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a))
is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting `(including
to purchase equipment for broadband or other emerging information technologies)'
after `equipment'.
(b) Microloans- Section 7(m)(1)(A)(iii)(I) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 636(m)(1)(A)(iii)(I)) is amended by inserting `(including
to purchase equipment for broadband or other emerging information technologies)'
after `or equipment'.
SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General- Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator
of General Services, shall submit to the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business
of the House of Representatives a report on ways to assist with the
development of broadband and wireless technology that would benefit
small business concerns.
(b) Content of the Report- The report submitted under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) outline the participation by the Administration in the National
Antenna Program, including the number of wireless towers deployed
on facilities which contain an office of the Administration;
(2) information on agreements between the Administration and the General
Services Administration related to broadband and wireless deployment
in offices of the Administration; and
(3) recommendations, if any, on opportunities for the Administration
to improve broadband or wireless technology in offices of the Administration
that are in areas currently underserved or unserved by broadband service
providers.
END
