[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72276-72277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27755]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DOL-2021-0006]


Telecommunications Interagency Working Group (TIWG)

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Request for nominations for membership on the 
Telecommunications Interagency Working Group.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Labor requests nominations for membership on 
the Telecommunications Interagency Working Group (TIWG).

DATES: Submit (send or transmit) nominations for TIWG by December 30, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations, including attachments, 
electronically to [email protected].
    Instructions. All nominations and supporting materials must include 
the agency name and docket number for this Federal Register document 
(Docket No. DOL-2021-0006).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For press inquiries: Contact Ms. Amanda McClure, U.S. Department of 
Labor; 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; telephone 
(202) 693-4676; email [email protected].
    For general information about TIWG and TIWG membership: Ms. Valeria 
Treves, OSEC; 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; 
telephone: 202-631-1132; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Labor invites interested 
persons to submit nominations for membership on TIWG.

A. Background

    Section 60602 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
directed the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission 
(``Chair''), in partnership with the Secretary of Labor 
(``Secretary''), to form TIWG ``to develop recommendations to address 
the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.'' 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, 60602, 135 
Stat. 429 (Nov. 15, 2021) (to be codified at 47 U.S.C. 344) 
(``Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act''). TIWG must be established 
by January 14, 2022, at which point the majority of members must be 
appointed. TIWG must prepare a report with ``recommendations to address 
the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry, including the 
safety of that workforce'' not later than one year after its 
establishment that will:
    (1) Determine whether, and if so how, any Federal laws, 
regulations, guidance, policies, or practices, or any budgetary 
constraints, may be amended to strengthen the ability of 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 to establish, 
adopt, or expand 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 improve recruitment in workforce development 
programs in the telecommunications industry;
    (5) 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 new programs, expand 
current programs, or partner with registered apprenticeship programs, 
to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry, 
including such needs in rural areas;
    (6) Identify ways to improve the safety of telecommunications 
workers, including tower climbers; and
    (7) Identify ways that trends in wages, benefits, and working 
conditions in the telecommunications industry impact recruitment of 
employees in the sector.''
    The statute provides that the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to TIWG.

B. TIWG Membership

    Pursuant to section 60602(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act, the Secretary will select three members of TIWG from outside 
organizations. Accordingly, the Department seeks nominations and 
expressions of interest from individuals and organizations interested 
in consideration under one or more of the following categories:
     A representative of a labor organization representing the 
telecommunications workforce;
     A representative of a registered apprenticeship program in 
construction or maintenance; and
     A public interest advocate for tower climber safety.
    In addition to one member from each of the above-mentioned 
categories, TIWG will comprise the following membership selected from 
individuals or organizations: (i) A representative of a 
telecommunications industry association, appointed by the Chair of the 
FCC; (ii) a representative of a Native American Tribe or Tribal 
organization, appointed by the Chair; (iii) a representative of a rural 
telecommunications carrier, appointed by the Chair; (iv) a 
telecommunications contractor firm, appointed by the Chair; and (v) a 
representative of an institution of higher education, appointed by the 
Secretary of Education. The membership will also be comprised of the 
following federal agency representatives: (i) A representative of the 
FCC, appointed by the Chair; (ii) a representative of the Directorate 
of Construction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
appointed by the Secretary of Labor; (iii) a representative of the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, appointed 
by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information; and (iv) a representative of the Department of Education, 
appointed by the Secretary of Education.
    Members must be willing to commit to serving on TIWG for one year. 
While the chair and a vice chair, which TIWG will name, will be 
responsible for organizing the business of the working group, the time 
commitment for participation in TIWG or any subgroup, if established, 
may be substantial. However, meetings may be conducted informally, 
using suitable technology to facilitate the meetings.
    The Department of Labor is committed to equal opportunity in the 
workplace and seeks broad-based and diverse TIWG membership. Any 
interested person or organization may nominate one or more individuals 
for membership on TIWG. Interested persons are also invited and 
encouraged to submit statements in support of nominees.

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C. Submission Requirements

    Nominations must include the following information:
     Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a 
description of the organization, sector, or other interest the nominee 
will represent;
     Nominee's mailing address, email address, and telephone 
number;
     Nominee's r[eacute]sum[eacute] or curriculum vitae, 
including relevant organizations and associations;
     A statement summarizing the nominee's qualifications and 
reasons why the nominee should be appointed to TIWG; and
     A statement, if the nominee will represent a specific 
organization, describing the organization as well as the benefit of 
having the organization represented on TIWG.

D. Member Selection

    The Secretary will select TIWG members on the basis of their 
experience, knowledge, and competence in the field as appropriate for 
each of the three slots. Although the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
does not apply to the TIWG, nominees will be evaluated for potential 
conflicts of interests. Information received through this nomination 
process, in addition to other relevant sources for information, will 
assist the Secretary in appointing members to TIWG. In selecting TIWG 
members, the Secretary will consider individuals nominated in response 
to this Federal Register document, as well as other qualified 
individuals.

Authority and Signature

    Rajesh D. Nayak, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210, authorized the 
preparation of this document.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on December 17, 2021.
Rajesh D. Nayak,
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-27755 Filed 12-17-21; 4:15 pm]
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