Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act

II 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 Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Telecommunications 4 Skilled Workforce Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 6 In this Act: 7 (1) 5G.—The term ‘‘5G’’, with respect to wire- 8 less infrastructure and wireless technology, means 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 3355 IS fifth-generation wireless infrastructure and wireless 1 technology. 2 (2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- 3 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- 4 mittees’’ means— 5 (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 6 and Transportation of the Senate; 7 (B) the Committee on Health, Education, 8 Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; 9 (C) the Committee on Energy and Com- 10 merce of the House of Representatives; and 11 (D) the Committee on Education and 12 Labor of the House of Representatives. 13 (3) BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term 14 ‘‘broadband infrastructure’’ means any buried, un- 15 derground, or aerial facility, and any wireless or 16 wireline connection, that enables users to send and 17 receive voice, video, data, graphics, or any combina- 18 tion thereof. 19 (4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 20 means the Federal Communications Commission. 21 (5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 22 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 23 meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 24 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 3355 IS (6) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘‘rural area’’ 1 means any area other than— 2 (A) a city, town, or incorporated area that 3 has a population of more than 20,000 inhab- 4 itants; or 5 (B) an urbanized area adjacent to a city or 6 town that has a population of more than 7 50,000 inhabitants. 8 (7) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise provided, 9 the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Labor. 10 (8) STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 11 BOARD.—The term ‘‘State workforce development 12 board’’ means a State workforce development board 13 established under section 101 of the Workforce In- 14 novation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111). 15 SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP EVALUATION. 16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 17 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consulta- 18 tion with the Chairman of the Commission, shall convene 19 an interagency working group to develop recommendations 20 to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications 21 industry. 22 (b) DUTIES.—In developing recommendations under 23 subsection (a), the interagency working group shall— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 3355 IS (1) determine whether, and if so how, any Fed- 1 eral laws (including regulations), policies, or prac- 2 tices, or any budgetary constraints, inhibit institu- 3 tions of higher education or for-profit businesses 4 from establishing, adopting, or expanding programs 5 intended to address the workforce needs of the tele- 6 communications industry, including the workforce 7 needed to build and maintain the 5G wireless infra- 8 structure necessary to support 5G wireless tech- 9 nology; 10 (2) identify potential policies and programs that 11 could encourage and improve coordination among 12 Federal agencies, between Federal agencies and 13 States, and among States, on telecommunications 14 workforce needs; 15 (3) identify ways in which existing Federal pro- 16 grams, including programs that help facilitate the 17 employment of veterans and military personnel 18 transitioning into civilian life, could be leveraged to 19 help address the workforce needs of the tele- 20 communications industry; 21 (4) identify ways to encourage individuals and 22 for-profit businesses to participate in qualified in- 23 dustry-led workforce development programs, includ- 24 ing the Telecommunications Industry Registered Ap- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •S 3355 IS prenticeship Program and other industry-recognized 1 apprenticeship programs; 2 (5) identify ways to improve recruitment in 3 qualified industry-led workforce development pro- 4 grams, including the Telecommunications Industry 5 Registered Apprenticeship Program and other indus- 6 try-recognized apprenticeship programs; and 7 (6) identify Federal incentives that could be 8 provided to institutions of higher education, for-prof- 9 it businesses, State workforce development boards, 10 or other relevant stakeholders to establish or adopt 11 programs, or expand current programs, to address 12 the workforce needs of the telecommunications in- 13 dustry, including such needs in rural areas. 14 (c) MEMBERS.—The interagency working group con- 15 vened under subsection (a) shall be composed of represent- 16 atives of such Federal agencies and relevant non-Federal 17 industry stakeholder organizations as the Secretary con- 18 siders appropriate, including— 19 (1) a representative of the Department of Edu- 20 cation, appointed by the Secretary of Education; 21 (2) a representative of the National Tele- 22 communications and Information Administration, 23 appointed by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce 24 for Communications and Information; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •S 3355 IS (3) a representative of the Department of Com- 1 merce, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce; 2 (4) a representative of the Commission, ap- 3 pointed by the Chairman of the Commission; 4 (5) a representative of the Telecommunications 5 Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program, ap- 6 pointed by the Secretary; 7 (6) a representative of a telecommunications in- 8 dustry association, appointed by the Chairman of 9 the Commission; 10 (7) a representative of an Indian Tribe or Trib- 11 al organization, appointed by the Secretary; 12 (8) a representative of a rural telecommuni- 13 cations carrier, appointed by the Secretary; and 14 (9) a representative from a labor organization, 15 appointed by the Secretary. 16 (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 17 after the date on which the interagency working group is 18 convened under subsection (a), the interagency working 19 group shall submit to the appropriate congressional com- 20 mittees a report containing recommendations to address 21 the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry. 22 (e) POWERS.— 23 (1) HEARINGS.—The interagency working 24 group convened under subsection (a) may hold such 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •S 3355 IS hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take 1 such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 2 interagency working group considers advisable to 3 carry out the objectives of this section. 4 (2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 5 The interagency working group convened under sub- 6 section (a) may secure directly from any Federal 7 agency such information as the interagency working 8 group considers necessary to carry out the provisions 9 of this section. Upon request of the interagency 10 working group, the head of such agency shall furnish 11 such information to the interagency working group. 12 (3) POSTAL SERVICES.—The interagency work- 13 ing group convened under subsection (a) may use 14 the United States mails in the same manner and 15 under the same conditions as other Federal agencies. 16 (f) PERSONNEL.— 17 (1) TRAVEL.—The members of the interagency 18 working group convened under subsection (a) shall 19 not receive compensation for the performance of 20 services for the interagency working group, but shall 21 be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 22 of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 23 agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 24 United States Code, while away from their homes or 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •S 3355 IS regular places of business in the performance of 1 services for the interagency working group. Notwith- 2 standing section 1342 of title 31, United States 3 Code, the interagency working group may accept the 4 voluntary and uncompensated services of members of 5 the interagency working group. 6 (2) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 7 Any employee of the Federal Government may be 8 detailed to the interagency working group convened 9 under subsection (a) without reimbursement, and 10 such detail shall be without interruption or loss of 11 civil service status or privilege. 12 (g) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Federal Ad- 13 visory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 14 the interagency working group convened under subsection 15 (a). 16 (h) SUNSET.—The interagency working group con- 17 vened under subsection (a) shall terminate on the day 18 after the date on which the interagency working group 19 submits the report to Congress under subsection (d). 20 SEC. 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE GUIDANCE. 21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 22 with the Chairman of the Commission, shall establish and 23 issue guidance on how States can address the workforce 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 9 •S 3355 IS needs of the telecommunications industry, including guid- 1 ance on how a State workforce development board can— 2 (1) utilize Federal resources available to States 3 to meet the workforce needs of the telecommuni- 4 cations industry; and 5 (2) promote and improve recruitment in quali- 6 fied industry-led workforce development programs, 7 including the Telecommunications Industry Reg- 8 istered Apprenticeship Program and other industry- 9 recognized apprenticeship programs. 10 SEC. 5. GAO ASSESSMENT OF WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE 11 TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. 12 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 13 of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 14 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 15 a report that estimates the number of skilled telecommuni- 16 cations workers that will be required to build and main- 17 tain— 18 (1) broadband infrastructure in rural areas; 19 and 20 (2) the 5G wireless infrastructure needed to 21 support 5G wireless technology. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S3355.IS S3355 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS