[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 145 (Monday, October 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7126-S7127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2707. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Vitter, and Ms. Hirono)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S.
2116, to improve certain programs of the Small Business Administration
to better assist small business customers in accessing broadband
technology, and for other purposes; which was referred to the Committee
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Broadband and
Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to a report by the Federal Communications
Commission entitled ``Connecting America: The National
Broadband Plan'', dated March 2010, the Commission recommends
that--
(A) ``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.'';
(B) ``Congress should consider ways to leverage existing
assistance provided through'' entrepreneurial development
programs, ``to focus training on advanced IT and broadband
applications'';
(C) ``Congress could also consider ways to support
technology training among women entrepreneurs through''
women's business centers;
(D) ``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.''; and
(E) 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.''.
(2) According to a report by the Broadband Opportunity
Council, dated August 20, 2015, the availability of and
access to broadband technology enables--
(A) greater civic participation, by providing tools for
open government and streamlining government process;
(B) changes in how people access educational resources,
collaborate in the educational process, conduct research, and
continue to learn anytime, anyplace, and at any pace;
(C) improved healthcare access, treatments, and
information;
(D) new business models that create business efficiencies,
drive job creation, and connect manufacturers and store-
fronts to clients and partners worldwide; and
(E) bringing communities together and improvements to
public safety, creating a greener planet, and make
transportation systems more resilient and efficient.
(3) According to a report entitled ``The State of the App
Economy'', dated October 2014--
(A) ``More than three-quarters of the highest grossing apps
are produced by startups and small companies.''; and
(B) ``Seventy-eight percent of the leading app companies
are located outside Silicon Valley.''.
(4) According to a report entitled, ``Developer Economics
Q1 2015: State of the Developer Nation'', dated February
2015, ``The emergence of the app industry over the past eight
years has grown to a $120 billion economy.''.
SEC. 3. BROADBAND AND EMERGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COORDINATOR.
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 47 as section 48; and
(2) by inserting after section 46 the following:
``SEC. 47. BROADBAND AND EMERGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `Associate Administrator' means the
Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and
Innovation; and
``(2) the term `broadband and emerging information
technology coordinator' means the employee designated to
carry out the broadband and emerging information technology
coordination responsibilities of the Administration under
subsection (b)(1).
``(b) Assignment of Coordinator.--
``(1) Assignment of coordinator.--The Associate
Administrator shall designate a senior employee of the Office
of Investment and Innovation to serve as the broadband and
emerging information technology coordinator, who--
``(A) shall report to the Associate 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 other Associate Administrator of the
Administration determined appropriate by the Associate
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;
``(C) identify best practices relating to broadband and
emerging information technology that may benefit small
business concerns; and
``(D) identify and catalog tools and training available
through the resource partners of the Administration that
assist small business concerns in adopting, making
innovations in, and using broadband and emerging
technologies.
``(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 Associate Administrator shall provide
to employees of the Administration training that--
``(A) familiarizes employees of the Administration with
broadband and other emerging information technologies;
``(B) includes--
``(i) instruction on 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; and
``(C) to maximum extent practicable, uses the tools and
training cataloged and identified under subsection (b)(2)(D).
``(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 Associate Administrator
makes the first designation of an employee 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) Impact of broadband speed and price on small
businesses.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to appropriations, the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy shall conduct a study evaluating the
impact of broadband speed and price on small business
concerns.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of the Small Business Broadband and Emerging
Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2015, the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives a report on the
results of the study under subparagraph (A), including--
``(i) a survey of broadband speeds available to small
business concerns;
``(ii) a survey of the cost of broadband speeds available
to small business concerns;
``(iii) a survey of the type of broadband technology used
by small business concerns; and
``(iv) any policy recommendations that may improve the
access of small business concerns to comparable broadband
services at comparable rates in all regions of the United
States.''.
SEC. 4. 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
[[Page S7127]]
(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;''.
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