News and Events

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released a new report taking a first look at data collected through the Internet Usage Survey of more than 50,000 households, commissioned by NTIA and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in October 2009. Since 2007, the data show that while virtually all demographic groups have experienced rising broadband Internet access adoption at home, historic disparities among particular demographic groups overall continue to persist.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced 10 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs and improve education and health care cross the country. The grants will increase broadband access and adoption in California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced an $11.9 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and health care in DeKalb County and portions of LaSalle County, Illinois.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced a $13.4 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education across the state of Utah.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, and New York 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.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded a grant of approximately $1.4 million to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in West Virginia 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.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (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.

From Commerce Website: http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2009/07/24/secretary-locke-reminds-consumers-apply-tv-converter-box-coupons-july

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke today reminds Americans who are still not digital television-ready that they have one more week to request converter box coupons before the July 31st deadline.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced details of a grant program to fund collection of state-level broadband data, as well as state-wide broadband mapping and planning, which will assist NTIA in creating a national broadband map. This initiative will provide consumers with better information on the broadband services available to them and inform efforts to increase broadband availability nationwide.

FROM White House Website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Vice-President-Biden-Launches-Initiative-to-Bring-Broadband-Jobs-to-More-Americans/

WATTSBURG, PA Vice President Biden today announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to unserved and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of Recovery Act funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.

WASHINGTON – The United States Senate last night confirmed Lawrence E. Strickling as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce. In this role, Strickling will serve as Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the executive branch agency that is principally responsible for advising the President on communications and information policies.   

WASHINGTON – 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.

WASHINGTON – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today hosted a workshop on the importance of the adoption and deployment of Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) addresses for industry, the U.S. Government, and the Internet economy.  Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced 14 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, create jobs, and improve education and public safety in communities across the country. The investments, totaling $206.8 million in grants, are the final awards in a program to increase broadband Internet access and adoption, enhancing the quality of life for Americans and laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.

WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments, totaling $6.1 million in grants, to help bridge the technological divide, improve education, and increase access to legal services in North Carolina and Washington.

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it has awarded a grant to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in New Jersey 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.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke today, joined by Senator Jeff Bingaman, Senator Tom Udall and former New Mexico Governor Toney Anaya on a press conference call, announced a $11.2 million Recovery Act investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and healthcare in eastern New Mexico and west Texas.

WASHINGTON -- Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling today announced two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education in Hawaii.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking comment on technical approaches to preventing contraband cell phone use in prisons.

In a Notice of Inquiry published today in the Federal Register, NTIA is requesting information from the public on technologies that can significantly reduce or eliminate contraband cell phone use without negatively affecting commercial wireless and public safety services, including 911 calls and other government radio services, in areas surrounding prisons.

WASHINGTON -- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that it will provide an opportunity for certain state and local governments to apply for broadband stimulus funding to support public safety projects. The potential applicants are the state and local governmental entities that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently permitted to deploy public safety broadband systems using the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum.

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that state governments and other existing awardees in its State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program may seek funding for various initiatives to help their communities compete in the digital economy and for up to three additional years of broadband mapping work.

FCC Press Contact: Jen Howard, 202-418-0506

WASHINGTON -- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling met on Friday, June 11, 2010 to discuss their agencies' complementary roles with respect to commercial and Federal spectrum. Federal law directs the agency heads to meet biannually to conduct joint spectrum planning.