What's New at NTIA 2009

Press Release: NTIA Awards 5 Grants for Broadband Mapping and Planning: NTIA announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah, and the U.S. Virgin Islands under NTIA's State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. (Print version Acrobat PDF 101 KB)
Posted December 31, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Awards 15 Grants for Broadband Mapping and Planning: NTIA announced that it has awarded 15 grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. (Print version Acrobat PDF 106 KB)
Posted December 22, 2009

White House Press Release: Vice President Biden Kicks Off $7.2 Billion Recovery Act Broadband Program: Joined by Governor Perdue, Vice President Announces an Initial $183 Million in Awards to Expand Broadband Access in Seventeen States.
- BTOP project information
Posted 12-17-2009

Speech: PLI/FCBA 27th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Institute: Remarks of Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Lawrence E. Strickling at the Practising Law Institute/Federal Communications Bar Association’s 27th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Institute, Washington, DC.
December 10, 2009

Public Comments: NTIA Comments on National Broadband Plan: NTIA filed a letter addressing the public safety, homeland security and cybersecurity elements of the National Broadband Plan being drafted by the FCC. NTIA also submitted a supplementary White Paper entitled “Executive Branch Views on Public Safety, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity Elements of a National Broadband Plan.”  (PDF 6.6 MB)
Posted 12-11-2009

Federal Register Notice: State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program Proposed Information Collection: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on continuing and proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104– 13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Written comments must be submitted on or before February 1, 2010. (PDF 53 Kb)
December 4, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) grants for fiscal year 2010: NTIA announces the solicitation of applications for planning and construction grants for public telecommunications facilities under the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) for fiscal year (FY) 2010. (PDF 57 Kb)
December 2, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Awards Grants for Broadband Mapping and Planning: NTIA announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, and Missouri under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. The data will be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers' efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them. (Print version Acrobat PDF 91 KB)
November 30, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee Meeting: NTIA published a notice announcing a public meeting of the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum policy matters. The meeting will be held on December 9, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. (PDF 46 Kb)
November 23, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing to Review Rural Broadband Programs Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Testimony of Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, NTIA, before the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture of the Committee on Agriculture United States House of Representatives. (Print version Acrobat PDF 91 Kb)
November 19, 2009

NTIA Submits Third Quarterly Status Report to Congress: NTIA submitted the third quarterly status report on the Broadband Technology and Opportunities Program (BTOP) to Congress on November 16, 2009. (Adobe PDF 229 Kb)
November 18, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Joint Request for Information: RUS and NTIA released a joint Request for Information (RFI) seeking comment on further implementation of the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Comments must be received by November 30, 2009. The input the agencies expect to receive from this process is intended to inform the second round of funding. (Adobe PDF 66 Kb)
- Press Release: NTIA and RUS Streamline Programs to Bring Broadband, Jobs to More Americans; Agencies Plan to Consolidate Final Two Funding Rounds, Seek Comment on Program Enhancements (Print Version Adobe PDF 108 Kb)
November 10, 2009

Public Comments: NTIA Comments on Requests for Waiver of the FCC's Rules in the 700 MHz Band: NTIA filed comments on requests for waiver of the FCC’s rules in PS Docket No. 06-229, Implementing a Nationwide, Broadband, Interoperable Public Safety Network in the 700 MHz Band. (Adobe PDF 139 Kb)
Posted 11-09-2009

Press Release: NTIA Awards Grants for Broadband Mapping and Planning: NTIA announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Alabama, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. (Print version Acrobat PDF 91 KB)
November 6, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on the Recovery Act and Broadband: Evaluation of Broadband Investments on Small Businesses and Job Creation: Testimony of Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, NTIA, before the Committee on Small Business, United States House of Representatives. (Print version Acrobat PDF 108 Kb)
October 28, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on Oversight of the Broadband Stimulus Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Testimony of Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, NTIA, before the Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, United States Senate. (Print version Acrobat PDF 92 Kb)
October 27, 2009

Press Release: NTIA awards $1.4 million grant for broadband mapping and planning in West Virginia: NTIA has awarded the West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey (GES) approximately $1.2 million to collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband across the state. In addition, the GES will receive $185,000 for the cost of broadband planning activities in West Virginia over two years, bringing its grant award total to approximately $1.4 million. (Print version Acrobat PDF 71 Kb)
October 23, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Broadband Data Transparency Workshop: NTIA will host a public meeting regarding data related to broadband Internet access that the agency collects, data needs of researchers, and future broadband research. The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., on October 30, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. (PDF 47 Kb)
- Meeting information
October 22, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Online Safety and Technology Working Group Public Meeting: NTIA has published a notice announcing a public meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group. The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., on November 3, 2009, from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. (PDF 47 Kb)
October 20, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee Meeting: NTIA has published a notice announcing a public meeting of the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum policy matters. The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., on October 27, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. (PDF 46 Kb)
October 9, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Announces First State Broadband Mapping Grants: NTIA today announced that it has awarded the first four grants under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program to fund activities in California, Indiana, North Carolina, and Vermont. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning. (Print version Acrobat PDF 71 Kb)
October 5, 2009

Press Release: Commerce's NTIA and ICANN Establish a Long-Lasting Framework for the Technical Coordination of the Internet’s Domain Name and Addressing System: NTIA announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that establishes a long-lasting framework for the technical coordination of the Internet’s domain name and addressing system (DNS).  (Print version Acrobat PDF 36Kb)
• Affirmation of Commitments (Acrobat PDF 1.9Mb)
September 30, 2009

Press Release: States and US. Territories Receive $40 Million in Grants to Improve 911 Services: NTIA and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced more than $40 million in grants to 30 states and U.S. territories to help 911 call centers across the country improve the ability to locate people calling from wireless and Internet-connected telephones.
September 29, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Online Safety and Technology Working Group Public Meeting: NTIA has published a notice announcing a public meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group. The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2009. Please note: The time for the meeting has been changed from that published in the Federal Register; the meeting will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. (PDF 47 Kb)
September 8, 2009
• Meeting Agenda (Acrobat PDF 54 Kb)
September 18, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on Oversight of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Broadband, Part 2: Testimony of Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, NTIA, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet. (Print version Acrobat PDF 46 Kb)
September 10, 2009

Press Release: NTIA'S Broadband Mapping Initiative Off to Strong Start: All U.S. States, Territories, and D.C. Apply to Participate in Program
(Print version Acrobat PDF 334 Kb)
• List of State Applicants (Acrobat PDF 242 Kb)
September 9, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Clarification regarding the period of performance for awards under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program (Broadband Mapping Program). (PDF 50 Kb)
September 9, 2009

Press Release: Commerce and Agriculture Announce Strong Demand for First Round of Funding to Bring Broadband, Jobs to More Americans: Nearly 2,200 Diverse Applications Submitted for Share of $4 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband Access and Adoption. (Acrobat PDF 98 Kb)
August 27, 2009

Press Release: Commerce and Agriculture Announce Strong Demand for First Round of Funding to Bring Broadband, Jobs to More Americans -- Nearly 2,200 Diverse Applications Submitted for Share of $4 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband Access and Adoption
August 27, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Method of acceptance of supplemental attachments: RUS and NTIA announce additional measures to ensure that all pending electronic applications can be submitted by the extended application deadline of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2009. All applicants must complete and submit their core application by the extended deadline. (PDF 53 Kb)
August 20, 2009

Congressional Report: Commerce's NTIA Submits Second Quarterly Status Report to Congress: NTIA submitted the second quarterly status report on the Broadband Technology and Opportunities Program (BTOP) to Congress on August 18, 2009.
August 18, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) Extension of Application Closing Deadline for Pending Electronic Applications: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service (RUS) and Commerce's NTIA announced that the application closing deadline for BIP and BTOP is extended until 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 20, 2009, for any electronic applications pending as of 5 p.m. ET on August 14, 2009. There are no changes to the filing instructions for paper applications. (Acrobat PDF 50 Kb)
August 18, 2009

Federal Register Notice: State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program Clarification. On August 7, 2009, NTIA released the following Notice clarifying the information collection requirements for the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program (Broadband Mapping Program).(Acrobat PDF 42 Kb)
• Frequently Asked Questions: Clarification of the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).
Updated August 11, 2009

Press Release: Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Reminds Consumers to Apply for TV Converter Box Coupons Before July 31st Deadline
July 27, 2009

State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program Online Workshop. On July 24, 2009, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted an online workshop on its recently announced grant program to fund collection of state-level broadband data, as well as state-wide broadband mapping and planning. (Acrobat PDF 24 Kb)
• Broadband Mapping Program Webinar Slides (Acrobat PDF 1.3 Mb)
• Broadband Mapping Program Webinar Video (Windows Media format; Transcript forthcoming)
Updated July 27, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Broadband Technology Opportunities Program publication of OMB control number for information collection. Comments on the collection of information requirements in the BTOP NOFA are due by August 31, 2009. (Acrobat PDF 42 Kb)
July 16, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on Review of Rural Broadband Programs: Testimony of Mark G. Seifert, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, NTIA, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture. (Print version Acrobat PDF 52 Kb)
July 9, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Relocation of Federal Systems in the 1710-1755 MHz Frequency Band: Review of the Initial Implementation of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act; Notice of Inquiry, Comments are due by August 21, 2009. (Acrobat PDF 84 Kb)
• Comments
July 7, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and solicitation of applications for the Broadband Initiatives Program and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. (Acrobat PDF 321 Kb)
• White House Press Release
• Fact Sheet
July 2, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. (Acrobat PDF 167 Kb)
• Press Release (HTML version)
• Press Release (Acrobat PDF 21Kb)
• Fact Sheet (Acrobat PDF 222Kb)
July 2, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Revision to the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management (Acrobat PDF 301 Kb)
July 2, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Buy American Exemption under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Acrobat PDF 56 Kb)
July 1, 2009

Press Release: U.S. Senate Confirms Lawrence E. Strickling As Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information
(Print version Acrobat PDF 23 Kb)
June 26, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Ex Parte Clarification: This Notice provides clarification regarding ex parte procedures associated with public comments on the Assessment of the Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet’s Domain Name and Addressing System, specifically as it relates to members of Congress, their staff, foreign government officials and officials of intergovernmental organizations. (Acrobat PDF 43 Kb)
June 17, 2009

Press Release: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Assures Americans that TV Converter Box Coupons are Still Available: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today assured Americans who are still not digital-television ready that converter box coupons are still available and that outreach will continue to those consumers who rely on free over-the-air broadcasting.
June 15, 2009

Press Release: FCC and Commerce’s NTIA Offer Continuing Consumer Assistance for DTV Transition: As the nation concludes its transition to digital television today, the Commerce Department's NTIA will continue providing consumer assistance after the June 12 transition. TV converter box coupons will be available to consumers who apply until July 31, while supplies last. In addition, the FCC is offering assistance over the phone and free in-home installation for consumers in most areas.
Key Phone Numbers for the Digital Television Transition:
• For questions about converter box installation, reception or other technical issues, or to schedule an in-home installation, call: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).
• To apply for TV converter box coupons (through July 31) visit www.dtv2009.gov or call: 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
June 12, 2009

Press Release: 1 Day Until DTV Transition: Focus at End of Technological Transition Is On People: On the eve of an historic technological transition to digital television, the focus for the two federal agencies managing the switch is on helping Americans who are at risk of losing their TV signals. (Print version Acrobat PDF 48 Kb)
June 11, 2009

Press Release: Secretary Locke Urges Unprepared Consumers to Ensure At Least One Television is DTV-Ready for June 12 Switch: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke urged Americans who rely on over-the-air broadcasting-typically those who use older televisions with “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna-to take immediate action so that at least one television in their household continues working when the nationwide switch to digital television occurs one week from today.
June 5, 2009

Federal Register Notice: E-911 Grant Program: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a joint Final Rule implementing the E-911 grant program authorized under the Ensuring Needed Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 911 (ENHANCE 911) Act of 2004. The Act authorizes grants for the implementation and operation of Phase II enhanced 911 services and for migration to an IP-enabled emergency network.
(Print version PDF 400 Kb)
June 5, 2009

Press Release: NTIA to Work with ICANN and VeriSign to Enhance the Security and Stability of the Internet’s Domain Name and Addressing System: NTIA and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that the two agencies are working with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and VeriSign on an initiative to enhance the security and stability of the Internet. The parties are working on an interim approach to deployment, by year’s end, of a security technology -- Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) -- at the authoritative root zone (i.e., the address book) of the Internet. (Print version Acrobat PDF 26 Kb)
June 3, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers: Testimony of Fiona M. Alexander, Associate Administrator, Office of International Affairs, NTIA, before the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on Issues Concerning the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). (Print version Acrobat PDF 34 Kb)
June 4, 2009

Press Release: Commerce Secretary Locke: “Time is Running Out” to Receive TV Converter Box Coupons Before June 12 Switch: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke is urging Americans who need help getting ready for the national switch to digital television (DTV) to apply for a converter box coupon no later than Monday, June 1, in order to receive it before the June 12 transition.
May 30, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Announces that Online Child Safety Working Group Will Meet June 4 and Will Include State Attorneys General Representative : NTIA today announced that the first meeting of its newly formed Online Safety and Technology Working Group will be held on June 4, 2009, in Washington, D.C., originally scheduled for May 22, 2009. The Working Group will include a representative of the National Association of Attorneys General. The meeting will be held at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC. (Print Version Acrobat PDF 25 Kb)
May 19, 2009
• Meeting Webcast Archive (The format is RealMedia) • June 4, 2009, Public Meeting Agenda (Acrobat PDF 9 Kb)
• Online Safety and Technology Working Group Background

Congressional Report: Commerce's NTIA Submits First Quarterly Status Report to Congress: NTIA submitted the second quarterly status report on the Broadband Technology and Opportunities Program (BTOP) to Congress on May 18, 2009.
May 18, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Announces Availability of $44 Million in Grants to Assist Low-Power TV Stations with Upgrade to Digital Broadcasting: NTIA announced the application process for a $44 million grant program to assist low-power television and translator stations with upgrading from analog to digital broadcasting. (Print version Acrobat PDF 184 Kb)
May 13, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program: notice to provide the guidelines for the Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program (Upgrade Program) and to announce the availability of approximately $44 million for awards under this program.
May 12, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Call for Applications for Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee: NTIA is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Department of Commerce’s Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) for new two-year terms.
May 6, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Announces Working Group to Advise on Industry Efforts to Promote a Safe Online Environment for Children: NTIA today announced the Online Safety and Technology Working Group -- a working group dedicated to keeping children safe on the Internet.  More than two dozen private sector and child and family advocacy leaders will help evaluate industry efforts to protect the privacy and safety of children and families online. (Print version Acrobat PDF 27 Kb)
April 28, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Seeks Public Comment Regarding Expiration of the Joint Project Agreement with ICANN: NTIA published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking public comment regarding the September 30, 2009, expiration date of its Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). (Print version Acrobat PDF 23 Kb)
April 27, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Assessment of the Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet’s Domain Name and Addressing System: NTIA seeks comment regarding the upcoming expiration of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). NOTE: Contact Information Correction: The correct telephone number to contact Suzanne R. Sene, Office of International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, is (202) 482-3167. (Acrobat PDF 23 Kb)
April 24, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Notice of Availability of a Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program: NTIA published the Final FONSI to evaluate the environmental impact of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program. (Acrobat PDF 47 Kb)
April 24, 2009

Report: 1710-1755 MHz Spectrum Band Relocation: NTIA has released the Second Annual Progress Report on the Relocation of Federal Systems from the 1710-1755 MHz Spectrum Band, which details progress from the commencement of relocation activity in March 2007 through December 2008. This is the first federal spectrum band selected for relocation pursuant to the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act. (PDF 183 Kb)
Posted April 21, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Low Power Upgrade Program Withdrawal: NTIA withdraws the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking soliciting comments on the implementation of the Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program. (Acrobat PDF 42 Kb)
April 20, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Final Rule for Corrections to Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management: NTIA hereby makes certain changes regarding the revisions to and the public availability of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management. (Acrobat PDF 47 Kb)
April 13, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Corrections to Part 300, Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management: NTIA adopts certain changes to update the version of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management with which Federal agencies must comply when requesting use of the radio frequency spectrum. In addition, NTIA updates the address where members of the public may obtain the manual.
April 13, 2009

Federal Register Notice: PTFP Notice of Availability of Funds: NTIA announces that $18 million has been appropriated for fiscal year 2009 grants for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. Funds will be available for applications submitted by the originally announced deadline of December 18, 2008, as well as applications for certain digital television Distributed Transmission System (DTS) projects and replacement translator projects.
April 8, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act: Testimony of Mark G. Seifert, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, NTIA, before the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on Oversight of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009: Broadband. (Print version Acrobat PDF 34 Kb)
April 2, 2009

Congressional Testimony: Hearing on the Digital Television Transition: Testimony of Anna M. Gomez, Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, U.S. Department of Commerce, Before the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. (Print version Acrobat PDF 40 Kb)
March 26, 2009

Press Release: Commerce’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program Now Accepting Requests to Replace Expired Coupons: NTIA has begun to accept replacement requests from eligible households whose coupons expired without being redeemed. Meanwhile, money allocated to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has allowed NTIA to clear the digital converter box coupon waiting list.
(Print version PDF 173 Kb)
Dated March 24, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Joint Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Request for Information: Pursuant to Section 6001 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Commerce's NTIA and Agriculture's RUS will hold a series of public meetings about the new broadband programs beginning on March 16, 2009. Through this notice, guidance is provided as to the matters to be discussed at these public meetings and the categories of information with respect to which interested parties may submit comments.
(Print version PDF 48 Kb)
Comment form
Clarification (Print version PDF 5 Kb)
Updated March 20, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Broadband Grant Programs Meetings Clarification: As a result of the overwhelming demand from interested parties for meetings and the expedited time frames in the Recovery Act for making the broadband grant, loan, and loan guarantee funds available, NTIA will not able to accommodate all meeting requests received. The agency, however, does reserve the right to schedule such ex parte meetings as necessary to fulfill the needs of the Broadband Grant Program.
March 18, 2009

Press Release: Vilsack, Copps and Wade Kick Off American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Broadband Initiative: U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack, Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Copps and U.S. Dept. of Commerce Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff Rick Wade kicked off the joint broadband initiative under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today and announced a series of public meetings. (Acrobat PDF 198Kb)
Updated March 10, 2009

Press Release: NTIA Begins to Clear TV Converter Box Coupon Request Waiting List: NTIA today announced that the agency has begun to clear its waiting list for requests to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program as a result of additional funds provided by Congress.
• Print version (Acrobat PDF 39 Kb)
Dated March 5, 2009

Federal Register Notice: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Broadband Initiatives The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host a public meeting on March 10, 2009, in connection with the Broadband Initiatives funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law No. 111-5.
• Meeting Agenda
Updated March 5, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Public Notice of Broadband Grant Programs Meetings: NTIA will begin holding meetings with interested parties on Monday, March 2, 2009, in connection with the broadband grant programs described in the Broadband Data Services Improvement Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. All interested parties are invited to schedule a meeting.
Dated February 24, 2009

Federal Register Notice: Clarification of Online Safety and Technology Working Group Notice: NTIA is clarifying a notice published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2008 seeking nominations of individuals to represent the business community, public interest groups, and other appropriate groups interested in serving on the NTIA Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG).
Dated February 24, 2009

Press Release: Commerce's NTIA Applauds Congress for Additional Funding to Eliminate Current TV Converter Box Coupon Waiting List
• Print version (Acrobat PDF, 27 Kb)
Dated February 19, 2009

Press Release: Commerce’s NTIA Welcomes Congressional Action on DTV Delay as Opportunity for More Americans to Prepare for the End of the Digital TV Transition
• Print version (Acrobat PDF, 27 Kb)
Dated February 5, 2009

Press Release: Commerce Department Announces New Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information To Assist in Leading Nation’s Switch to Digital Television
• Print version (Acrobat PDF, 32 Kb)
Dated February 4, 2009

Federal Register Notice: NTIA has extended the solicitation period for applications for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) replacement digital television translator projects. NTIA will accept applications for these projects until Monday, May 18, 2009.(Acrobat PDF, 58 Kb)
Posted January 30, 2009

Press Release: Commerce Department Announces Committee to Advise on Management of Nation’s Airwaves: Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced the appointment of a diverse group of representatives from the private sector for a two-year term to the Commerce Spectrum Advisory Committee.
• Print version (Acrobat PDF, 32 Kb)
Dated January 16, 2009

Statement: Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Urges Congress to Pass Legislation to Enable NTIA to Accelerate Distribution of DTV Coupons: "This approach would ease the transition for consumers seeking coupons, while maintaining the integrity of the transition plans."
• Letter to Henry A. Waxman, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives (Acrobat PDF, 809 Kb) [Identical letters have been sent to Representatives Barton, Boucher, Stearns, Pelosi, Hoyer, and Boehner]
• Letter to John D. Rockefeller, Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, U.S. Senate (Acrobat PDF, 809 Kb) [Identical letters have been sent to Senators Hutchison, Reid and McConnell]
• TV Converter Box Coupon Program Statistics and Background
Posted January 15, 2009

Federal Register Notice: NTIA has amended the system of records regarding the DTV Converter Box Coupon Program to allow for the collection of additional personally identifiable information, namely the name of nursing home facilities. (Acrobat PDF, 58 Kb)
Posted January 14, 2009

Press Release: Commerce's NTIA Releases Statement Regarding the TV Converter Box Coupons: "We are working with Congress and other stakeholders so coupons can be processed and mailed without delay," said Meredith Attwell Baker, acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
- Press Release, Print Version (Acrobat PDF, 28 Kb)
Posted January 8, 2009

Archived "What's New" Material from 2008
Archived "What's New" Material from 2007

Archived "What's New" Material from 2006

Archived "What's New" Material from 2005

Archived "What's New" Material from 2004

Archived "What's New" Material from 2003

Archived "What's New" Material from 2002

Archived "What's New" Material from 2001

Archived "What's New" Material from prior years