Sens. Kerry and Landrieu Introduce Small Business Broadband Bill

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Mary Landrieu, and former Chairman, John Kerry, recently introduced a bill to improve broadband access for small businesses in the U.S.

According to Senator Landrieu, "fewer than 24 percent of our nation's small businesses routinely use broadband application to sell their product." The percentage of small businesses using Internet is small, but by providing greater Internet access it will allow small businesses to compete and grow within the marketplace. The bill contains three key components:

• 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.  

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Read the full text of the bill

Landrieu, Kerry Introduce Bill to Improve Small Business Broadband Access (Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship)

Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011 (THOMAS)