[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3355 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






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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