[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 257 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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.
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 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
``(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.''.
(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.
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