II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3506 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2010.

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..

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).

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:

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.

.

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,.

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.

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.

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.