47 U.S.C. § 344 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 47. Telecommunications § 344. Telecommunications interagency working group

(1)In general

Not later than 60 days after November 15, 2021, the Chairman of the Commission, in partnership 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 working group have been appointed, consistent with subsection (d).

(1) determine whether, and if so how, any Federal laws, regulations, guidance, policies, or practices, or any budgetary constraints, may be amended to strengthen the ability of institutions of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of Title 20) or for-profit businesses to establish, adopt, or expand 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 improve recruitment in workforce development programs in the telecommunications industry;

(5) identify Federal incentives that could be provided to institutions of higher education, for-profit businesses, State workforce development boards established under section 3111 of Title 29, or other relevant stakeholders to establish or adopt new programs, expand current programs, or partner with registered apprenticeship programs, to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry, including such needs in rural areas;

(6) identify ways to improve the safety of telecommunications workers, including tower climbers; and

(7) identify ways that trends in wages, benefits, and working conditions in the telecommunications industry impact recruitment of employees in the sector.

(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 a registered apprenticeship program in construction or maintenance, 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 an institution of higher education described in section 1067q(a) of Title 20, appointed by the Secretary of Education.

(10) A public interest advocate for tower climber safety, appointed by the Secretary of Labor.

(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 Secretary of Labor.

(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 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 and the Secretary of Labor may detail employees of the Commission and 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 working group.

(1)Report to Congress

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the telecommunications interagency working group is established, the working group shall submit a report containing its recommendations to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry to--

(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 working group.

(3)Views

The telecommunications interagency working group shall--

(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.