Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act
Bill: S.163 | Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John (R-SD)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act
This bill establishes measures to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.
Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish an interagency working group to develop recommendations for addressing these workforce needs.
In addition, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish and issue guidance on how states can address the workforce needs and safety of the telecommunications industry. In particular, the guidance must address how a state workforce development board can (1) utilize federal resources available to meet telecommunications industry workforce needs; (2) promote and improve recruitment in qualified industry-led workforce development programs, including the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program; and (3) ensure the safety of tower climbers and other members of the telecommunications workforce.
The Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress 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.

To address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Telecommunications Skilled 
Workforce Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERAGENCY WORKING 
              GROUP.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 344. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERAGENCY WORKING 
              GROUP.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) 5G.--The term `5G', with respect to wireless 
        infrastructure and wireless technology, means fifth-generation 
        wireless infrastructure and wireless technology.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means any 
        area other than--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a city, town, or incorporated area 
                that has a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants; 
                or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) an urbanized area adjacent to a city 
                or town that has a population of more than 50,000 
                inhabitants.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Telecommunications interagency working 
        group.--The term `telecommunications interagency working group' 
        means the interagency working group established under 
        subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Duties.--In developing recommendations under 
subsection (b), the telecommunications interagency working group 
shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) a representative of the Department of 
        Education, appointed by the Secretary of Education;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) a representative of the National 
        Telecommunications and Information Administration, appointed by 
        the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
        Information;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) a representative of the Department of 
        Commerce, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) a representative of the Commission, 
        appointed by the Chairman of the Commission;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) a representative of the Telecommunications 
        Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program, appointed by the 
        Secretary of Labor;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) a representative of a telecommunications 
        industry association, appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Commission;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) a representative of an Indian Tribe or 
        Tribal organization, appointed by the Secretary of 
        Labor;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) a representative of a rural 
        telecommunications carrier, appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Commission;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) a representative of a telecommunications 
        contractor firm, appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Commission;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(11) a representative of a labor organization, 
        appointed by the Secretary of Labor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) No Compensation.--A member of the telecommunications 
interagency working group shall serve without compensation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the telecommunications 
interagency working group.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE GUIDANCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>     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--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) utilize Federal resources available to States 
        to meet the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) promote and improve recruitment in qualified 
        industry-led workforce development programs, including the 
        Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship 
        Program.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. GAO ASSESSMENT OF WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE 
              TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) 5G.--The term ``5G'', with respect to wireless 
        infrastructure and wireless technology, means fifth-generation 
        wireless infrastructure and wireless technology.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The 
        term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
                of the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the Committee on Education and Labor 
                of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) broadband infrastructure in rural areas; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the 5G wireless infrastructure needed to 
        support 5G wireless technology.</DELETED>

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) Definition.--In this section, the term `telecommunications 
interagency working group' means the interagency working group 
established under subsection (b)(1).
    ``(b) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--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, including the safety of that 
        workforce.
            ``(2) Date of establishment.--The telecommunications 
        interagency working group shall be considered established on 
        the date on which a majority of the members of the 
        telecommunications interagency working group have been 
        appointed, consistent with subsection (d).
    ``(c) Duties.--In developing recommendations under subsection (b), 
the telecommunications interagency working group shall--
            ``(1) determine whether, and if so how, any Federal laws, 
        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;
            ``(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 new 
        programs, or expand current programs, to address the workforce 
        needs of the telecommunications industry, including such needs 
        in rural areas; and
            ``(7) identify ways to improve the safety of 
        telecommunications workers, including tower climbers.
    ``(d) Members.--The telecommunications interagency working group 
shall be composed of the following representatives of Federal agencies 
and relevant non-Federal industry stakeholder organizations:
            ``(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 Commission, appointed by the 
        Chairman of the Commission.
            ``(4) A representative of the Telecommunications Industry 
        Registered Apprenticeship Program, appointed by the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            ``(5) A representative of a telecommunications industry 
        association, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission.
            ``(6) A representative of an Indian Tribe or Tribal 
        organization, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission.
            ``(7) A representative of a rural telecommunications 
        carrier, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission.
            ``(8) A representative of a telecommunications contractor 
        firm, appointed by the Chairman of the Commission.
            ``(9) 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.
            ``(10) A public interest advocate for tower climber safety, 
        appointed by the Chairman of the Commission.
            ``(11) A representative of the Directorate of Construction 
        of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, appointed 
        by the Secretary of Labor.
            ``(12) A representative of a labor organization 
        representing the telecommunications workforce, appointed by the 
        Chairman of the Commission.
    ``(e) No Compensation.--A member of the telecommunications 
interagency working group shall serve without compensation.
    ``(f) Other Matters.--
            ``(1) Chair and vice chair.--The telecommunications 
        interagency working group shall name a chair and a vice chair, 
        who shall be responsible for organizing the business of the 
        telecommunications interagency working group.
            ``(2) Subgroups.--The chair and vice chair of the 
        telecommunications interagency working group, in consultation 
        with the other members of the telecommunications interagency 
        working group, may establish such subgroups as necessary to 
        help conduct the work of the telecommunications interagency 
        working group.
            ``(3) Support.--The Commission or the Secretary of Labor 
        may detail an employee of the Commission or the Department of 
        Labor, respectively, to assist and support the work of the 
        telecommunications interagency working group, though such a 
        detailee shall not be considered to be a member of the 
        telecommunications interagency working group.
    ``(g) Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the telecommunications interagency working group is 
        established, the telecommunications interagency working group 
        shall submit a report containing its recommendations to address 
        the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry to--
                    ``(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;
                    ``(D) the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    ``(E) the Secretary of Labor; and
                    ``(F) the Commission.
            ``(2) Majority support.--The telecommunications interagency 
        working group may not submit the report under paragraph (1) 
        unless the report has the support of not less than the majority 
        of the members of the telecommunications interagency working 
        group.
            ``(3) Views.--The telecommunications interagency working 
        group shall--
                    ``(A) include with the report submitted under 
                paragraph (1) any concurring or dissenting view offered 
                by a member of the telecommunications interagency 
                working group; and
                    ``(B) identify each member to whom each concurring 
                or dissenting view described in subparagraph (A) should 
                be attributed.
            ``(4) Public posting.--The Commission and the Secretary of 
        Labor shall make a copy of the report submitted under paragraph 
        (1) available to the public on the websites of the Commission 
        and the Department of Labor, respectively.
    ``(h) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. 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)(1) 
of that section submits the report under subsection (g) of that 
section.

SEC. 3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE GUIDANCE.

     Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Chairman of the Federal 
Communications Commission, shall establish and issue guidance on how 
States can address the workforce needs and safety 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;
            (2) promote and improve recruitment in qualified industry-
        led workforce development programs, including the 
        Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program; 
        and
            (3) ensure the safety of the telecommunications workforce, 
        including tower climbers.

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

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
congressional committees'' means--
            (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.
    (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, including 
        estimates based on--
                    (A) current need; and
                    (B) projected need, if Congress enacts legislation 
                that accelerates broadband infrastructure construction 
                in the United States; and
            (2) the wireless infrastructure needed to support 5G 
        wireless technology.
                                                       Calendar No. 194

117th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 163

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