To require the regional holding companies of local telephone carriers to establish and carry out plans for procurement from businesses owned by minorities and women, and for other purposes.
Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require each of the regional holding companies formed as a consequence of the divestiture of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company of its local telephone companies to submit an annual plan for increasing procurement from business enterprises which are owned by minorities and women.
Directs the FCC to establish regulations for: (1) implementing programs pursuant to this Act that will govern such companies and their affiliates; (2) verifying and determining the eligibility of business enterprises that are owned by minorities and women for procurement contracts; (3) requiring company outreach programs to inform and recruit such enterprises to apply for such contracts; and (4) enforcing this Act. Allows the FCC to waive the provisions set forth above if procurement from such enterprises results in undue hardship or unreasonable expense to a regional holding company.
Provides sanctions for the: (1) false representation of a business as a business enterprise owned by minorities or women; and (2) false implementation by holding companies of the programs to be implemented pursuant to this Act.
Prohibits discrimination against such qualified business enterprises in procuring contracts from telephone utilities.
Allows such enterprises to bring civil actions in appropriate U.S. district courts against any regional holding company which is resisting full compliance with this Act.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.