I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 187
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Commu-
nications Commission to prescribe rules to lower market entry barriers
for small business, business concerns owned by women and members
of minority groups, and nonprofit entities that are seeking to provide
telecommunication services and information services.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 4, 1995
Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the
Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules
to lower market entry barriers for small business, busi-
ness concerns owned by women and members of minority
groups, and nonprofit entities that are seeking to provide
telecommunication services and information services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION. 1. COMPETITION BY SMALL BUSINESS AND MI-
NORITY-OWNED BUSINESS CONCERNS.
Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 235. POLICY AND RULEMAKING TO PROMOTE DIVER-
SITY OF OWNERSHIP.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) in furtherance of the purposes of this Act
to make available to all people of the United States
a rapid and efficient communications service, and
for the purposes of promoting a diversity of opinion
in the broadcasting service, the Commission has es-
tablished regulations and policies to promote owner-
ship of broadcasting services by members of minority
groups;
‘‘(2) these regulations have served to promote
more vigorous communications on public issues, to
broaden the number and variety of stakeholders in
the American economy, and to promote innovation
by and creativity by Americans of different cultures
and national origins, and thereby have served to
build a more cohesive and productive society;
‘‘(3) while the Commission has adopted regula-
tions to promote participation by businesses owned
by members of minority groups and women, and
small businesses, in auctions for certain spectrum-
based services which promote diversity of ownership
in those services, no other regulations have been es-
tablished to promote such diversity of participation
in the provision of common carrier services or in the
provision of other telecommunications and informa-
tion services;
‘‘(4) the goals of competitively priced services,
service innovation, employment, and diversity of
viewpoint can be advanced by promoting market-
place penetration by small business concerns, busi-
ness concerns owned by women and members of mi-
nority groups, and nonprofit entities; and
‘‘(5) it should be the policy of the Commission
to promote whenever possible diversity of ownership
in the provision of information services and tele-
communication services by such concerns and enti-
ties.
‘‘(b) RULEMAKING REQUIRED.—Within 1 year after
the date of enactment of this section, the Commission, in
consultation with the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, shall initiate a rulemaking
proceeding for the purpose of lowering market entry bar-
riers for small business, business concerns owned by
women and members of minority groups, and nonprofit
entities that are seeking to provide telecommunication
services and information services. The proceeding shall
seek to provide remedies for, among other things, lack of
access to capital and technical and marketing expertise on
the part of such concerns and entities. Consistent with the
broad policy and finding set forth in subsection (a), the
Commission shall adopt such regulations and make such
recommendations to Congress as the Commission deems
appropriate. Not later than 2 years after the date of enact-
ment of this section, the Commission shall complete the
proceeding required by this subsection.’’.
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