[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 12 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E142-E143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION TO OPEN THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY TO 
                             ALL AMERICANS

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                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 20, 1995
  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in the last 2 weeks I have 
introduced a pair of legislative initiatives that are of paramount 
importance if we in this body are to adequately ensure that all 
Americans have a genuine opportunity to participate in the information 
revolution that is now rapidly progressing in our Nation. As we are all 
well aware, every day in the morning papers another story appears 
announcing a new telecommunications merger or plans for the development 
of a new telecommunications technology. The pace of change in this 
arena is absolutely striking.
  But with change comes challenges Mr. Speaker. While we should all 
look forward to the opportunities presented by new, emerging 
technologies, we cannot disregard the lessons of the past and the 
hurdles we still face in making certain that everyone in America 
benefits equally from our country's maiden voyage into cyberspace.
  It is a very well-documented fact that minority and women-owned small 
businesses continue to be overwhelmingly under-represented in the 
telecommunications field. In the cellular industry, which generates in 
excess of $10 billion per year, there are a mere 11 minority firms 
offering services in this market. Overall, barely 1 percent of all 
telecommunications companies are minority-owned. Of women-owned firms 
in the United States, only 1.9 percent fall within the communications 
category.
  Therefore, I have introduced two separate pieces of legislation, H.R. 
187 and H.R. 503, the Telecommunications Economic Opportunity Act of 
1995, that seek to remedy the aforementioned inequities. It is 
imperative that minorities and women are drivers, not simply 
passengers, in the superhighway fast lane. As the statistics point out, 
too often in the past these groups have been left standing on the 
shoulder, only to watch the big guys and gals cruise down the road, 
leaving them in the dust.
  I must note that both of these measures passed the full House by a 
landslide last year as part of H.R. 3626, the Antitrust and 
Communications Reform Act of 1994, and I look forward to the same 
bipartisan support for my initiatives in the 104th Congress.
  [[Page E143]] H.R. 187 would require a rulemaking on the part of the 
Federal Communications Commission, after consultation with the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, on ways to surmount 
barriers to market access, such as undercapitalization, that continue 
to constrain small businesses, minority, women-owned, and nonprofit 
organizations in their attempts to take part in all telecommunications 
industries. Underlying this amendment is the obvious fact that 
diversity of ownership remains a key to the competitiveness of the U.S. 
telecommunications marketplace.
  H.R. 503, which is intended to increase the availability of venture 
capital and research and development funding for both new and existing 
small, women, and minority-owned companies, would require all 
telecommunications providers to annually submit to the FCC their clear 
and detailed company policies for increasing procurement from business 
enterprises that are owned by minorities and women in all categories of 
procurement in which these entities are under-represented. The FCC 
would then report to Congress on the progress of these activities and 
recommend legislative solutions as needed.
  Mr. Speaker, last year Congress fell short in its attempts to pave 
the roads of the information superhighway with increased competition 
and, thereby, assist in promoting greater economic opportunities for 
more Americans as we head into the 21st century. This year we can ill 
afford to repeat our past mistakes.
  While my measures do not completely solve the long-standing problems 
that confront so many forgotten entities and enterprises in our 
communities, their passage will ensure that minorities and women will 
have a strong role in the fantastic industries of the future as both 
users and providers of services. Because of this, we all stand to 
benefit.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support both H.R. 187 and H.R. 503.
  

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