Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Prevention and Elimination of Digital Discrimination: Ex Parte Comments of the NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is pleased to offer ex parte comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the above-captioned proceeding. As the President’s principal adviser on telecommunications and information policy, NTIA is charged with developing, coordinating, and effectively presenting Executive Branch views to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission). NTIA is deeply committed to the advancement of digital equity and is actively administering programs and engaging in research and policy development in this space. Key to the success of ongoing efforts at NTIA, the Commission, and throughout the federal government is a set of strong, clear, and practical rules that facilitate equal access to broadband, prevent digital discrimination of access, and work in concert with federal programs aimed at achieving universal broadband deployment, adoption, and usage. To that end, NTIA stands ready to work with the Commission to ensure that the digital discrimination rules issued in this proceeding maximize our collective ability to combat discrimination and close the digital divide; fully account for the unique circumstances presented by initiatives like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program; and enable the Commission to take full advantage of the wealth of relevant data and related resources available from the Executive Branch.