IMPACT Act
Bill: S.996 | Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. (R-MS)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Improving Minority Participation And Careers in Telecommunications Act or the IMPACT Act
This bill establishes a grant program to assist certain institutions of higher education with setting up a program that prepares minority students to participate in the telecommunications workforce.
Specifically, the bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, acting through the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives, to establish the Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program. This grant program shall provide funds to historically Black colleges or universities, tribal colleges or universities, or minority-serving institutions to facilitate the creation of programs that (1) educate and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce, and (2) include both a curriculum and apprenticeship or internship opportunities.

To award grants to certain institutions of higher education to educate 
 and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce.

    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 ``Improving Minority Participation And 
Careers in Telecommunications Act'' or the ``IMPACT Act''.

SEC. 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
        means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
        and Information.
            (2) Covered grant.--The term ``covered grant'' means a 
        grant awarded under subsection (b).
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        historically Black college or university, Tribal College or 
        University, or minority-serving institution, or a consortium of 
        such entities, that forms a partnership with 1 or more of the 
        following entities to carry out a training program:
                    (A) A member of the telecommunications industry, 
                such as a company or industry association.
                    (B) A labor-management organization.
                    (C) The Telecommunications Industry Registered 
                Apprenticeship Program.
                    (D) A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping 
                individuals gain employment in the telecommunications 
                industry.
                    (E) A community or technical college with 
                experience in providing workforce development for 
                individuals seeking employment in the 
                telecommunications industry or a similar industry.
            (4) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Telecommunications 
        Workforce Training Grant Program Fund established under 
        subsection (c)(1).
            (5) Grant program.--The term ``Grant Program'' means the 
        Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program established 
        under subsection (b).
            (6) Historically black college or university.--The term 
        ``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning 
        given the term `part B institution' in section 322 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
            (7) Industry field activities.--The term ``industry field 
        activities'' means activities at active telecommunications 
        worksites, such as towers, construction sites, and network 
        management hubs.
            (8) Industry partner.--The term ``industry partner'' means 
        an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of 
        paragraph (3) with which an eligible entity forms a partnership 
        to carry out a training program.
            (9) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution described in section 
        371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067q(a)).
            (10) Training program.--The term ``training program'' means 
        a credit or non-credit program developed by an eligible entity, 
        in partnership with an industry partner, that--
                    (A) is designed to educate and train students to 
                participate in the telecommunications workforce; and
                    (B) includes a curriculum and apprenticeship or 
                internship opportunities.
            (11) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal 
        College or University'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3)).
    (b) Program.--The Assistant Secretary, acting through the Office of 
Minority Broadband Initiatives established under section 902(b)(1) of 
division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 
116-260), shall establish a program, to be known as the 
``Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program'', under which 
the Assistant Secretary awards grants to eligible entities to develop 
training programs.
    (c) Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a fund to be known as the 
        ``Telecommunications Workforce Training Grant Program Fund''.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available 
        to the Assistant Secretary to carry out the Grant Program.
    (d) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a covered 
        grant shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Assistant Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--An eligible entity shall include in an 
        application under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) a commitment from the industry partner of the 
                eligible entity to collaborate with the eligible entity 
                to develop a training program, including curricula and 
                internships or apprenticeships;
                    (B) a description of how the eligible entity plans 
                to use the covered grant, including the type of 
                training program the eligible entity plans to develop; 
                and
                    (C) a plan to increase female student participation 
                in the training program of the eligible entity.
    (e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use a covered grant, with 
respect to the training program of the eligible entity, to--
            (1) hire faculty members to teach courses in the training 
        program;
            (2) train faculty members to prepare students for 
        employment in jobs related to the deployment of next-generation 
        communications networks, including 5G networks, and fiber 
        infrastructure, particularly in--
                    (A) broadband and wireless network engineering;
                    (B) network deployment;
                    (C) industry field activities; and
                    (D) cybersecurity;
            (3) design and develop curricula and other components 
        necessary for degrees, courses, or programs of study, including 
        certificate programs and credentialing programs, that comprise 
        the training program;
            (4) pay for costs associated with instruction under the 
        training program, including the costs of equipment, 
        telecommunications training towers, laboratory space, classroom 
        space, and instructional field activities;
            (5) fund scholarships, student internships, 
        apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities;
            (6) recruit students for the training program; and
            (7) support the enrollment in the training program of 
        individuals working in the telecommunications industry in order 
        to advance professionally in the industry.
    (f) Grant Awards.--
            (1) Deadline.--Not later than December 31, 2022, the 
        Assistant Secretary shall award all covered grants.
            (2) Minimum allocation to certain entities.--The Assistant 
        Secretary shall award not less than--
                    (A) 30 percent of covered grant amounts to 
                historically Black colleges or universities; and
                    (B) 30 percent of covered grant amounts to Tribal 
                Colleges or Universities.
            (3) Evaluation criteria.--As part of the final rules issued 
        under subsection (g), the Assistant Secretary shall develop 
        criteria for evaluating applications for covered grants.
    (g) Rules.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, after providing public notice and an opportunity to comment, 
the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor 
and the Secretary of Education, shall issue final rules governing the 
Grant Program.
    (h) Term.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish the term of a 
covered grant, which may not be less than 5 years.
    (i) Grantee Reports.--During the term of a covered grant received 
by an eligible entity, the eligible entity shall submit to the 
Assistant Secretary an annual report that, with respect to the 
preceding year--
            (1) describes how the eligible entity used the covered 
        grant amounts;
            (2) describes the progress the eligible entity made in 
        developing and executing the training program of the eligible 
        entity;
            (3) describes the number of faculty and students 
        participating in the training program of the eligible entity;
            (4) describes the partnership with the industry partner of 
        the eligible entity, including the commitments and in-kind 
        contributions made by the industry partner; and
            (5) includes data on internship, apprenticeship, and 
        employment opportunities and placements.
    (j) Oversight.--
            (1) Audits.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
        Commerce shall audit the Grant Program in order to--
                    (A) ensure that eligible entities use covered grant 
                amounts in accordance with--
                            (i) the requirements of this section; and
                            (ii) the overall purpose of the Grant 
                        Program, as described in subsection (b); and
                    (B) prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the 
                operation of the Grant Program.
            (2) Revocation of funds.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        revoke a grant awarded to an eligible entity that is not in 
        compliance with the requirements of this section or the overall 
        purpose of the Grant Program, as described in subsection (b).
    (k) Annual Report to Congress.--Each year, until all covered grants 
have expired, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that--
            (1) identifies each eligible entity that received a covered 
        grant and the amount of the covered grant;
            (2) describes the progress each eligible entity described 
        in paragraph (1) has made toward accomplishing the overall 
        purpose of the Grant Program, as described in subsection (b);
            (3) summarizes the job placement status or apprenticeship 
        opportunities of students who have participated in the training 
        program of the eligible entity; and
            (4) includes the findings of any audits conducted by the 
        Inspector General of the Department of Commerce under 
        subsection (j)(1) that were not included in the previous report 
        submitted under this subsection.
    (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Fund $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain 
available until expended.
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