[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S250-S251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Peters, Mr. Wicker, 
        and Mr. Moran):
  S. 163. A bill to address the workforce needs of the 
telecommunications industry; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 163

       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. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.

       (a) In General.--Part I of title III of the Communications 
     Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

     ``SEC. 344. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) 5G.--The term `5G', with respect to wireless 
     infrastructure and wireless technology, means fifth-
     generation wireless infrastructure and wireless technology.
       ``(2) 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.
       ``(3) Telecommunications interagency working group.--The 
     term `telecommunications interagency working group' means the 
     interagency working group established under subsection (b).
       ``(b) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
     of enactment of this section, the Chairman of the Commission, 
     in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall establish 
     within the Commission an interagency working group to develop 
     recommendations to address the workforce needs of the 
     telecommunications industry.
       ``(c) Duties.--In developing recommendations under 
     subsection (b), the telecommunications interagency working 
     group shall--
       ``(1) determine whether, and if so how, any Federal laws 
     (including regulations), guidance, policies, or practices, or 
     any budgetary constraints, inhibit institutions of higher 
     education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 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;
       ``(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 established under section 
     101 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
     U.S.C. 3111), 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.
       ``(d) Members.--The telecommunications interagency working 
     group shall be composed of representatives of such Federal 
     agencies and relevant non-Federal industry stakeholder 
     organizations as the Chairman of the Commission, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Labor, 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 
     of Labor;
       ``(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 of Labor;
       ``(8) a representative of a rural telecommunications 
     carrier, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission;
       ``(9) a representative of a telecommunications contractor 
     firm, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission;
       ``(10) a representative of a minority institution (as 
     defined in section 365 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1067k)), appointed by the Secretary of Education; 
     and
       ``(11) a representative of a labor organization, appointed 
     by the Secretary of Labor.
       ``(e) No Compensation.--A member of the telecommunications 
     interagency working group shall serve without compensation.
       ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date on which the telecommunications interagency working 
     group is established, the working group shall submit a report 
     containing recommendations to address the workforce needs of 
     the telecommunications industry to--
       ``(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate;
       ``(2) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions of the Senate;
       ``(3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       ``(4) the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(g) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory 
     Committee Act (5 U.S.C.

[[Page S251]]

     App.) shall not apply to the telecommunications interagency 
     working group.''.
       (b) Sunset.--Section 344 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
     as added by subsection (a), shall be repealed on the day 
     after the date on which the interagency working group 
     established under subsection (b) of that section submits the 
     report to Congress under subsection (f) of that section.

     SEC. 3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE GUIDANCE.

        Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Chairman of the Federal Communications 
     Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, 
     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 
     established under section 101 of the Workforce Innovation and 
     Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111) 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.

     SEC. 4. GAO ASSESSMENT OF WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE 
                   TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (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.
       (b) Report.--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.
                                 ______