,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #iif ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #be1 #bjba,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,sinema1 and ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to award grants to certain institutions of higher education to educate and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving ,minority ,participation ,and ,careers in ,telecommunications ,act or the ,,impact ,act4 #b4 ,telecommunications ,workforce ,training ,grant ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,assistant ,secretary ,the term ,assistant ,secretary means the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information4 7#b7 ,covered grant ,the term covered grant means a grant awarded under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a historically ,black college or university1 ,tribal ,college or ,university1 or minority-serving institution1 or a consortium of such entities1 that forms a partnership with #a or more of the following entities to carry out a training program3 7,a7 ,a member of the telecommunications industry1 such as a company or industry association4 7,b7 ,a labor-management organization4 7,c7 ,the ,telecommunications ,industry ,registered ,apprenticeship ,program4 7,d7 ,a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals gain employment in the telecommunications industry4 7,e7 ,a community or technical college with experience in providing workforce development for individuals seeking employment in the telecommunications industry or a similar industry4 7#d7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,telecommunications ,workforce ,training ,grant ,program ,fund established under subsection 7c77#a74 7#e7 ,grant ,program ,the term ,grant ,program means the ,telecommunications ,workforce ,training ,grant ,program established under subsection 7b74 7#f7 ,historically ,black college or university ,the term historically ,black college or university has the meaning given the term #8part ,b institution' in section #cbb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfa74 7#g7 ,industry field activities ,the term industry field activities means activities at active telecommunications worksites1 such as towers1 construction sites1 and network management hubs4 7#h7 ,industry partner ,the term industry partner means an entity described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,e7 of paragraph 7#c7 with which an eligible entity forms a partnership to carry out a training program4 7#i7 ,minority-serving institution ,the term minority-serving institution means an institution described in section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a774 7#aj7 ,training program ,the term training program means a credit or non-credit program developed by an eligible entity1 in partnership with an industry partner1 that-- 7,a7 is designed to educate and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce2 and 7,b7 includes a curriculum and apprenticeship or internship opportunities4 7#aa7 ,tribal ,college or ,university ,the term ,tribal ,college or ,university has the meaning given the term in section #caf7;b77#c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b77#c774 7b7 ,program ,the ,assistant ,secretary1 acting through the ,office of ,minority ,broadband ,initiatives established under section #ijb7;b77#a7 of division ,n of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bfj71 shall establish a program1 to be known as the ,telecommunications ,workforce ,training ,grant ,program1 under which the ,assistant ,secretary awards grants to eligible entities to develop training programs4 7c7 ,fund 7#a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a fund to be known as the ,telecommunications ,workforce ,training ,grant ,program ,fund4 7#b7 ,availability ,amounts in the ,fund shall be available to the ,assistant ,secretary to carry out the ,grant ,program4 7d7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity desiring a covered grant shall submit an application to the ,assistant ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,assistant ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,contents ,an eligible entity shall include in an application under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 a commitment from the industry partner of the eligible entity to collaborate with the eligible entity to develop a training program1 including curricula and internships or apprenticeships2 7,b7 a description of how the eligible entity plans to use the covered grant1 including the type of training program the eligible entity plans to develop2 and 7,c7 a plan to increase female student participation in the training program of the eligible entity4 7e7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity may use a covered grant1 with respect to the training program of the eligible entity1 to-- 7#a7 hire faculty members to teach courses in the training program2 7#b7 train faculty members to prepare students for employment in jobs related to the deployment of next-generation communications networks1 including #e;,g networks1 and fiber infrastructure1 particularly in-- 7,a7 broadband and wireless network engineering2 7,b7 network deployment2 7,c7 industry field activities2 and 7,d7 cybersecurity2 7#c7 design and develop curricula and other components necessary for degrees1 courses1 or programs of study1 including certificate programs and credentialing programs1 that comprise the training program2 7#d7 pay for costs associated with instruction under the training program1 including the costs of equipment1 telecommunications training towers1 laboratory space1 classroom space1 and instructional field activities2 7#e7 fund scholarships1 student internships1 apprenticeships1 and pre-apprenticeship opportunities2 7#f7 recruit students for the training program2 and 7#g7 support the enrollment in the training program of individuals working in the telecommunications industry in order to advance professionally in the industry4 7f7 ,grant awards 7#a7 ,deadline ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjbb1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall award all covered grants4 7#b7 ,minimum allocation to certain entities ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall award not less than-- 7,a7 #cj percent of covered grant amounts to historically ,black colleges or universities2 and 7,b7 #cj percent of covered grant amounts to ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities4 7#c7 ,evaluation criteria ,as part of the final rules issued under subsection 7g71 the ,assistant ,secretary shall develop criteria for evaluating applications for covered grants4 7g7 ,rules ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 after providing public notice and an opportunity to comment1 the ,assistant ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,labor and the ,secretary of ,education1 shall issue final rules governing the ,grant ,program4 7h7 ,term ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall establish the term of a covered grant1 which may not be less than #e years4 7i7 ,grantee reports ,during the term of a covered grant received by an eligible entity1 the eligible entity shall submit to the ,assistant ,secretary an annual report that1 with respect to the preceding year-- 7#a7 describes how the eligible entity used the covered grant amounts2 7#b7 describes the progress the eligible entity made in developing and executing the training program of the eligible entity2 7#c7 describes the number of faculty and students participating in the training program of the eligible entity2 7#d7 describes the partnership with the industry partner of the eligible entity1 including the commitments and in-kind contributions made by the industry partner2 and 7#e7 includes data on internship1 apprenticeship1 and employment opportunities and placements4 7j7 ,oversight 7#a7 ,audits ,the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,commerce shall audit the ,grant ,program in order to-- 7,a7 ensure that eligible entities use covered grant amounts in accordance with-- 7i7 the requirements of this section2 and 7ii7 the overall purpose of the ,grant ,program1 as described in subsection 7b72 and 7,b7 prevent waste1 fraud1 and abuse in the operation of the ,grant ,program4 7#b7 ,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 ,program1 as described in subsection 7b74 7k7 ,annual report to ,congress ,each year1 until all covered grants have expired1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that-- 7#a7 identifies each eligible entity that received a covered grant and the amount of the covered grant2 7#b7 describes the progress each eligible entity described in paragraph 7#a7 has made toward accomplishing the overall purpose of the ,grant ,program1 as described in subsection 7b72 7#c7 summarizes the job placement status or apprenticeship opportunities of students who have participated in the training program of the eligible entity2 and 7#d7 includes the findings of any audits conducted by the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,commerce under subsection 7j77#a7 that were not included in the previous report submitted under this subsection4 7l7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,fund #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba1 to remain available until expended4