News and Events

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that it received 94 applications requesting nearly $3 billion in federal funding and proposing more than $1.3 billion in private investment to support innovation in wireless equipment.

The space industry would get new tools under recommendations from NTIA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), further advancing America’s leadership in commercial space. A joint report by NTIA and NASA calls for providing the industry with access to radio frequencies for use in space-to-space communications.

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Mike Cannon has been named the Executive Director and CEO of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), after most recently serving as the FirstNet Authority Chief Counsel. 

The FirstNet Authority is responsible for the deployment and operation of the FirstNet Network, a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network based on a single, national network architecture.

By Adam Cassady, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

Public safety telecommunications professionals are a lifeline for their communities. 

Each and every day, they model the best of public service by answering and dispatching our emergency calls, working 12-hour shifts with frequent overtime, managing multiple emergencies at once, and missing holidays and family events while looking out for their “second families”—the police, fire, and EMS officials who depend on them. 

“In 2021, Congress created the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand Americans’ access to high-speed internet.  But, years later, because of the prior Administration’s woke mandates, favoritism towards certain technologies, and burdensome regulations, the program has not connected a single person to the internet and is in dire need of a readjustment.  

NTIA is responsible for the contract for .us – the country code Top Level Domain for the United States (usTLD). Through this contract, NTIA sets policy and other requirements for the usTLD, which serves as an online home for American businesses, individuals, and geographical localities. These policies help make .us functional, secure and unique. For example, the .us “nexus” policy requires a connection between a .us registrant and the United States.

Last May NTIA launched a request for comment (RFC) on how U.S. government policies can support the development of next-generation commercial wireless “6G” technology. In this post, we discuss NTIA’s work on 6G and the overarching themes included in the comments received in response to the RFC. 

Delaware Can Proceed Toward Network Construction That Will Connect All Remaining Homes and Small Businesses to Affordable High-Speed Internet

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Delaware’s Final Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.  

Louisiana Can Proceed Toward Network Construction That Will Connect All Remaining Homes and Small Businesses to Affordable High-Speed Internet

WASHINGTON –The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Louisiana’s Final Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.  

WASHINGTON — The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded nearly $18 million to seven Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded more than $117 million in the second batch of grants from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund’s second Notice of Funding Opportunity.

By Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce & NTIA Administrator

Every day at NTIA, we work to promote technology in the service of human progress. That has been the throughline of our actions on Internet connectivity, spectrum and tech policy.

As I look ahead to my third anniversary and final days as NTIA Administrator next week, I’m incredibly proud of what we have accomplished to advance technology for people and progress.

Closing the Digital Divide

As of last week, the federal government has obligated all $42.45 billion in BEAD funding to states and territories (the “Eligible Entities”). This means that, subject to the terms and conditions of their awards, Eligible Entities can access their BEAD allocation to connect every resident to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service. With all 56 Eligible Entities having now reached this critical milestone, we know that grantees are eager to begin deployment of new high-speed Internet networks.

By Rafi Goldberg, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator

In September, NTIA and the Census Bureau announced an ambitious new initiative to improve our understanding of Internet use at a local level.

Local Estimates of Internet Adoption (Project LEIA) is aimed at producing more granular Internet adoption estimates using a combination of existing data and statistical modeling techniques known as “small area estimation.”

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that up to $450 million in funding will be made available for software-focused Open RAN innovation.