[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3506 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3506
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
June 17, 2010
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 2010''.
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.
In this Act--
(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 44 as section 45; and
(2) by inserting after section 43 the following:
``SEC. 44. 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) shall not be an employee of the Office of
Technology of the Administration;
``(D) has experience developing and implementing
telecommunications policy in the private sector or
government; and
``(E) 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
``(B) includes--
``(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.
``(d) Reports.--
``(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.''.
SEC. 5. ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Assistance by Small Business Development Centers.--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;''.
(b) Assistance by Women's Business Centers.--Section 29(b)(3) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(b)(3)) is amended by inserting
``using broadband and other emerging information technologies,'' after
``negotiating contracts,''.
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''.
(c) 504 Loans.--Section 502 of the Small Business Investment Act of
1958 (15 U.S.C. 697) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1)
by inserting ``and the purchase of equipment for broadband or other
emerging information technologies'' after ``acquisition of land''.
SEC. 7. RURAL SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``qualified small business concern'' means a
small business concern located in a rural area; and
(2) the term ``rural area'' has the meaning given that term
in section 1393(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator, in coordination 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 describing--
(1) the number of Government-owned computers in the
possession of the Administration, including the number of
working computers, nonworking computers, desktop computers, and
laptop computers;
(2) the number of Government-owned computers disposed of by
the Administration during the 5-year period ending on the date
of enactment of this Act, including the number of such
computers that were working computers, nonworking computers,
desktop computers, or laptop computers;
(3) the procedures of the Administration for the disposal
of Government-owned computers; and
(4) the plans of the Administrator for carrying out the
pilot program under subsection (c).
(c) Pilot Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a
pilot program to provide not more than 1,000 excess Government-
owned computers each year to qualified small business concerns
at no cost or a reduced cost.
(2) Purposes of program.--The pilot program established
under paragraph (1) shall be designed to--
(A) encourage entrepreneurship in rural areas;
(B) assist small business concerns in accessing
technology; and
(C) accelerate the growth of qualified small
business concerns.
(3) Termination.--The authority to conduct the pilot
program under this subsection shall terminate 3 years after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator such sums as are necessary to carry
out this section.
SEC. 8. 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.
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