[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3355 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3355
To address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2020
Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Moran, Mr. Peters, and Mr.
Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.
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 ``Telecommunications Skilled Workforce
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) 5G.--The term ``5G'', with respect to wireless
infrastructure and wireless technology, means fifth-generation
wireless infrastructure and wireless technology.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives.
(3) Broadband infrastructure.--The term ``broadband
infrastructure'' means any buried, underground, or aerial
facility, and any wireless or wireline connection, that enables
users to send and receive voice, video, data, graphics, or any
combination thereof.
(4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(5) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(6) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' means any area
other than--
(A) a city, town, or incorporated area that has a
population of more than 20,000 inhabitants; or
(B) an urbanized area adjacent to a city or town
that has a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.
(7) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
(8) State workforce development board.--The term ``State
workforce development board'' means a State workforce
development board established under section 101 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111).
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP EVALUATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman of the
Commission, shall convene an interagency working group to develop
recommendations to address the workforce needs of the
telecommunications industry.
(b) Duties.--In developing recommendations under subsection (a),
the interagency working group shall--
(1) determine whether, and if so how, any Federal laws
(including regulations), policies, or practices, or any
budgetary constraints, inhibit institutions of higher education
or for-profit businesses from establishing, adopting, or
expanding programs intended to address the workforce needs of
the telecommunications industry, including the workforce needed
to build and maintain the 5G wireless infrastructure necessary
to support 5G wireless technology;
(2) identify potential policies and programs that could
encourage and improve coordination among Federal agencies,
between Federal agencies and States, and among States, on
telecommunications workforce needs;
(3) identify ways in which existing Federal programs,
including programs that help facilitate the employment of
veterans and military personnel transitioning into civilian
life, could be leveraged to help address the workforce needs of
the telecommunications industry;
(4) identify ways to encourage individuals and for-profit
businesses to participate in qualified industry-led workforce
development programs, including the Telecommunications Industry
Registered Apprenticeship Program and other industry-recognized
apprenticeship programs;
(5) identify ways to improve recruitment in qualified
industry-led workforce development programs, including the
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program
and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs; and
(6) identify Federal incentives that could be provided to
institutions of higher education, for-profit businesses, State
workforce development boards, or other relevant stakeholders to
establish or adopt programs, or expand current programs, to
address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry,
including such needs in rural areas.
(c) Members.--The interagency working group convened under
subsection (a) shall be composed of representatives of such Federal
agencies and relevant non-Federal industry stakeholder organizations as
the Secretary considers appropriate, including--
(1) a representative of the Department of Education,
appointed by the Secretary of Education;
(2) a representative of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, appointed by the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information;
(3) a representative of the Department of Commerce,
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce;
(4) a representative of the Commission, appointed by the
Chairman of the Commission;
(5) a representative of the Telecommunications Industry
Registered Apprenticeship Program, appointed by the Secretary;
(6) a representative of a telecommunications industry
association, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission;
(7) a representative of an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization, appointed by the Secretary;
(8) a representative of a rural telecommunications carrier,
appointed by the Secretary; and
(9) a representative from a labor organization, appointed
by the Secretary.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the interagency working group is convened under subsection (a),
the interagency working group shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report containing recommendations to address
the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.
(e) Powers.--
(1) Hearings.--The interagency working group convened under
subsection (a) may hold such hearings, sit and act at such
times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the interagency working group considers advisable
to carry out the objectives of this section.
(2) Information from federal agencies.--The interagency
working group convened under subsection (a) may secure directly
from any Federal agency such information as the interagency
working group considers necessary to carry out the provisions
of this section. Upon request of the interagency working group,
the head of such agency shall furnish such information to the
interagency working group.
(3) Postal services.--The interagency working group
convened under subsection (a) may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
Federal agencies.
(f) Personnel.--
(1) Travel.--The members of the interagency working group
convened under subsection (a) shall not receive compensation
for the performance of services for the interagency working
group, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of
business in the performance of services for the interagency
working group. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United
States Code, the interagency working group may accept the
voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the
interagency working group.
(2) Detail of government employees.--Any employee of the
Federal Government may be detailed to the interagency working
group convened under subsection (a) without reimbursement, and
such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil
service status or privilege.
(g) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the interagency working group
convened under subsection (a).
(h) Sunset.--The interagency working group convened under
subsection (a) shall terminate on the day after the date on which the
interagency working group submits the report to Congress under
subsection (d).
SEC. 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman
of the Commission, shall establish and issue guidance on how States can
address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry,
including guidance on how a State workforce development board can--
(1) utilize Federal resources available to States to meet
the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry; and
(2) promote and improve recruitment in qualified industry-
led workforce development programs, including the
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program
and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.
SEC. 5. GAO ASSESSMENT OF WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INDUSTRY.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that estimates the number
of skilled telecommunications workers that will be required to build
and maintain--
(1) broadband infrastructure in rural areas; and
(2) the 5G wireless infrastructure needed to support 5G
wireless technology.
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