,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccee ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bg1 #bjbj,mr4 ,thune 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,tester1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,mr4 ,peters1 and ,mr4 ,wicker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,telecommunications ,skilled ,workforce ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 #e;,g ,the term #e;,g1 with respect to wireless infrastructure and wireless technology1 means fifth-generation wireless infrastructure and wireless technology4 7#b7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,d7 the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,broadband infrastructure ,the term broadband infrastructure means any buried1 underground1 or aerial facility1 and any wireless or wireline connection1 that enables users to send and receive voice1 video1 data1 graphics1 or any combination thereof4 7#d7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#e7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#f7 ,rural area ,the term rural area means any area other than-- 7,a7 a city1 town1 or incorporated area that has a population of more than #bj1jjj inhabitants2 or 7,b7 an urbanized area adjacent to a city or town that has a population of more than #ej1jjj inhabitants4 7#g7 ,secretary ,except as otherwise provided1 the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,labor4 7#h7 ,state workforce development board ,the term ,state workforce development board means a ,state workforce development board established under section #aja of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caaa74 #c4 ,interagency working group evaluation 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,chairman of the ,commission1 shall convene an interagency working group to develop recommendations to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry4 7b7 ,duties ,in developing recommendations under subsection 7a71 the interagency working group shall-- 7#a7 determine whether1 and if so how1 any ,federal laws 7including regulations71 policies1 or practices1 or any budgetary constraints1 inhibit institutions of higher education or for-profit businesses from establishing1 adopting1 or expanding programs intended to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry1 including the workforce needed to build and maintain the #e;,g wireless infrastructure necessary to support #e;,g wireless technology2 7#b7 identify potential policies and programs that could encourage and improve coordination among ,federal agencies1 between ,federal agencies and ,states1 and among ,states1 on telecommunications workforce needs2 7#c7 identify ways in which existing ,federal programs1 including programs that help facilitate the employment of veterans and military personnel transitioning into civilian life1 could be leveraged to help address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry2 7#d7 identify ways to encourage individuals and for-profit businesses to participate in qualified industry-led workforce development programs1 including the ,telecommunications ,industry ,registered ,apprenticeship ,program and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs2 7#e7 identify ways to improve recruitment in qualified industry-led workforce development programs1 including the ,telecommunications ,industry ,registered ,apprenticeship ,program and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs2 and 7#f7 identify ,federal incentives that could be provided to institutions of higher education1 for-profit businesses1 ,state workforce development boards1 or other relevant stakeholders to establish or adopt programs1 or expand current programs1 to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry1 including such needs in rural areas4 7c7 ,members ,the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 shall be composed of representatives of such ,federal agencies and relevant non-,federal industry stakeholder organizations as the ,secretary considers appropriate1 including-- 7#a7 a representative of the ,department of ,education1 appointed by the ,secretary of ,education2 7#b7 a representative of the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration1 appointed by the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information2 7#c7 a representative of the ,department of ,commerce1 appointed by the ,secretary of ,commerce2 7#d7 a representative of the ,commission1 appointed by the ,chairman of the ,commission2 7#e7 a representative of the ,telecommunications ,industry ,registered ,apprenticeship ,program1 appointed by the ,secretary2 7#f7 a representative of a telecommunications industry association1 appointed by the ,chairman of the ,commission2 7#g7 a representative of an ,indian ,tribe or ,tribal organization1 appointed by the ,secretary2 7#h7 a representative of a rural telecommunications carrier1 appointed by the ,secretary2 and 7#i7 a representative from a labor organization1 appointed by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which the interagency working group is convened under subsection 7a71 the interagency working group shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing recommendations to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry4 7e7 ,powers 7#a7 ,hearings ,the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 may hold such hearings1 sit and act at such times and places1 take such testimony1 and receive such evidence as the interagency working group considers advisable to carry out the objectives of this section4 7#b7 ,information from ,federal agencies ,the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 may secure directly from any ,federal agency such information as the interagency working group considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this section4 ,upon request of the interagency working group1 the head of such agency shall furnish such information to the interagency working group4 7#c7 ,postal services ,the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 may use the ,united ,states mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other ,federal agencies4 7f7 ,personnel 7#a7 ,travel ,the members of the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 shall not receive compensation for the performance of services for the interagency working group1 but shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the interagency working group4 ,notwithstanding section #acdb of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 the interagency working group may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the interagency working group4 7#b7 ,detail of government employees ,any employee of the ,federal ,government may be detailed to the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 without reimbursement1 and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege4 7g7 ,nonapplicability of ,,faca ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a74 7h7 ,sunset ,the interagency working group convened under subsection 7a7 shall terminate on the day after the date on which the interagency working group submits the report to ,congress under subsection 7d74 #d4 ,telecommunications workforce guidance 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,chairman of the ,commission1 shall establish and issue guidance on how ,states can address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry1 including guidance on how a ,state workforce development board can-- 7#a7 utilize ,federal resources available to ,states to meet the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry2 and 7#b7 promote and improve recruitment in qualified industry-led workforce development programs1 including the ,telecommunications ,industry ,registered ,apprenticeship ,program and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs4 #e4 ,,gao assessment of workforce needs of the telecommunications industry ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 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-- 7#a7 broadband infrastructure in rural areas2 and 7#b7 the #e;,g wireless infrastructure needed to support #e;,g wireless technology4