Sens Landrieu, Kerry Introduce Bill to Improve Small Business Broadband Access

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) -- Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship -- and former Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011, a measure to make broadband Internet more accessible to the nation’s small businesses.

Sens Landrieu and Kerry introduced a similar bill in the 111th Congress. This legislation calls on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to take a lead role in helping our small businesses to access broadband and other advanced technologies. To accomplish this, the legislation requires the SBA to make three, key improvements, including:

• Creating a Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator to facilitate the development of small business broadband initiatives within the agency, and also to act as a liaison with other federal agencies;
• Requiring SBA resource partners, such as Small Business Development Centers (SBDC’s),to provide technical assistance related to both accessing and utilizing broadband and emerging information technology; and
• Improving the SBA’s popular 7(a) and microloan programs by allowing borrowers to use the proceeds of their loans to finance the purchase of broadband services, equipment or other emerging technologies.