News and Publications

Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) convened a roundtable to discuss what data is needed to better measure the economic importance of the cross-border information flows that connect people and businesses across the globe.

This week, broadband leaders from across the country convened at the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition’s annual conference to discuss key broadband policy issues important to communities and community anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and libraries.

From the thriving tech hub of Seattle to the small mountain town of Silverton, Colo., communities around the country understand that broadband access and adoption are essential to staying competitive in the 21^st century.

Americans’ rapid move toward mobile Internet service appears to be coming at the expense of home broadband connections, according to the latest computer and Internet use data released by NTIA. At the same time, many Americans are using a wider range of computing devices in their daily lives. Both of these findings suggest that technological changes are driving a profound shift in how Americans use the Internet, which may be opening a new digital divide based on the use of particular types of devices and Internet services.  These results come from the U.S.

Remarks of Angela Simpson
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information
NTCA 2016 Legislative and Policy Conference
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
April 18, 2016
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From televisions to tablets to smart phones, consumers can choose from a wide variety of devices made by a range of manufacturers to view the programming they purchase from cable, satellite, and telephone company multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs).

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that as part of the Department’s Digital Economy Agenda, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Request for Comment (RFC) on questions posed by the growth of the Internet of Things (IOT). This Request is an important step in the Department’s continued effort to promote the Internet of Things, the broad category of devices, appliances, and objects that can be connected via the Internet.

The Chairman and the Assistant Secretary met and discussed spectrum planning and management priorities. The Chairman reported that the Commission began the incentive auction this week. They discussed the FCC and NTIA’s collective work to identify and prioritize opportunities to increase spectrum availability, including for 5G and other innovative uses.

As we work to meet the President’s goal of making 500 megahertz of additional spectrum available for commercial wireless broadband, it has become clear that spectrum sharing will need to be part of the solution to meeting spectrum demand. Accordingly, NTIA is examining ways to improve the technology that would enable greater spectrum sharing between federal and nonfederal users.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker announced today the appointment of 17 distinguished leaders with a wide range of expertise on digital policy and economic issues to serve on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Digital Economy Board of Advisors, which will provide recommendations on ways to advance economic growth and opportunity in the digital age.

As the headquarters for a number of technology industry pioneers, Seattle has a thriving digital economy. But even in this high-tech hub, 93,000 residents – or 15 percent of the city’s population – don’t subscribe to the Internet.

Remarks of Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Digital Northwest Summit
Seattle, Washington
March 21, 2016

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As the Obama Administration continues to focus on expanding broadband access and adoption, NTIA released new data today that shows that some of the demographic groups that have historically lagged behind in using the Internet—such as senior citizens, minorities, and Americans with lower levels of educational attainment—are making big strides.

Remarks of Alan Davidson
Director of Digital Economy
U.S. Department of Commerce
10th annual Southeast Venture Conference
Tysons Corner, Va.
March 17, 2016

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Thank you for that introduction, and good afternoon. Thank you to TechMedia for including us in this event. It is exciting to be in the presence of so many promising emerging technology firms from the Southeast Region.

Remarks of Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Washington, D.C.
March 17, 2016

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Over the past two decades, the Internet has touched the lives of billions of people around the globe in profound ways.  It has fueled economic growth, giving even the most remote villages the opportunity to sell their products in faraway lands.  It has fueled innovation, connecting mobile gadgets and household appliances.  And it has torn down barriers to speech, enabling diverse viewpoints to be heard across the political spectrum.

This post is part of our “Spotlight on NTIA” blog series, which is highlighting the work that NTIA employees are doing to advance NTIA’s mission of promoting broadband adoption, finding spectrum to meet the growing demand for wireless technologies, and ensuring the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.

Access to broadband means economic growth, new employment opportunities, and improvements in education, health care, and public safety. NTIA's recognition of this central fact of the 21st century is why we have engaged in a range of efforts to increase Internet access, adoption, and digital literacy, from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program funded by the Recovery Act to the creation of the first public, searchable nationwide map of broadband availability.

Remarks by Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
ICANN/GAC High Level Governmental Meeting
Marrakech, Morocco
March 7, 2016

—As Prepared for Delivery—

The U.S. copyright system strives to create a careful balance between rights and exceptions. Businesses, libraries, consumers, and especially the creative community rely on a range of exceptions and limitations, such as fair use, on a daily basis. Fair use, a fundamental element of the U.S. copyright system, is a legal doctrine that permits the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works under certain circumstances. Because it is technology-neutral, it can be applied in a flexible manner during times of dynamic technological change.