The Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship has advanced four bills to aid small businesses with broadband access, bolstering cybersecurity and federal regulation compliance.
The committee also approved a measure designed to help veterans, and their spouses, transition from the military to entrepreneurship.
The Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act (S. 3906) empowers the Small Business Administration (SBA) with the leadership and resources needed to help small businesses access broadband internet.
“This measure is especially important for small businesses in rural communities,” Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) said. “During the pandemic, many small businesses transitioned to delivery, curbside pickup, online sales, and other innovative models to make up for the loss of in-person customers. These changes in consumer expectations have only made access to affordable broadband internet more important to the success of businesses. This bill will leverage the SBA’s existing resources to train small business owners on how best to integrate broadband internet and other emerging technologies into their businesses.”
The Business Cyber Training Act of 2021 (S. 1687) establishes a program training counselors at Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to provide cybersecurity guidance to small business owners.
Cardin said the legislation would certify SBDC counselors to help small business owners identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities while fortifying defenses against cyber threats.
The One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act (S. 3595) requires the SBA to maintain a website with hyperlinks to the small business compliance guides of each federal agency and the relevant points of contact for the guides.
And the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act (S. 3564) authorizes the Boots to Business program for five years, per the panel, codifying program goals and requirements focusing on entrepreneurial endeavors.