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TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS

Subtitle F — Small Business Matters

P. L. 115-

House Conference Report. 115-874

(a) Study Required.—Subject to appropriations, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study evaluating the impact of broadband speed and price on small business concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)).

(b) Report.—Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study under subsection (a), including—

(1) a survey of broadband speeds available to small business concerns;

(2) a survey of the cost of broadband speeds available to small business concerns;

(3) a survey of the type of broadband technology used by small business concerns; and

(4) any policy recommendations that may improve the access of small business concerns to comparable broadband services at comparable rates in all regions of the United States.

The House bill contained a provision (sec. 856) that would direct the Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and Innovation of the Small Business Administration to designate a senior employee as the "Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator." The Coordinator would be responsible for connecting small businesses with financing programs, and advising these businesses on how to acquire broadband and new information technology. This section would also direct a biennial report on activities beginning 2 years after the first designation of a Coordinator to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.

The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

The Senate recedes with an amendment that would instead direct the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the impact of broadband speed and price on small business concerns.