News and Events

First responders know the deadly consequences of not having a communications network that is reliable and interoperable, a problem highlighted during the September 2001 terrorist attacks and Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.  

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is working to ensure our nation’s first responders have access to the most advanced communications when responding to an emergency or natural disaster.

“We applaud today’s announcements from the Application Developers Alliance, Intuit and TRUSTe that they have released enhanced privacy notices for mobile applications, which are based on the code of conduct developed through the NTIA-convened multistakeholder process.  This is an important step that will give consumers more information about what data is being collected via mobile apps and empower consumers to protect their privacy.  We are pleased that others have tested and implemented notices, including ACT: The App Association and Lookout, and we encourage other companies to i

Keynote Address by Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
“Who governs the Internet? A conversation on securing the multistakeholder process”

American Enterprise Institute
Washington, D.C.

July 22, 2014

--As Prepared for Delivery--

To support the Administration’s commitment to making available an additional 500 MHz of spectrum for commercial use by 2020, NTIA continues to perform and publish technical studies in bands proposed for sharing. In collaboration with a wireless technology provider, earlier this year NTIA performed ground-breaking interference-effects testing between radar signals and broadband digital communication receivers in the 3550–3650 MHz band.

Remarks by Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Internet Governance Forum USA 2014
Washington, D.C.
July 16, 2104

—As Prepared for Delivery—

Access to high-speed Internet has become a necessity for communities and businesses, and the latest data from the National Broadband Map shows that broadband continues to be available to more Americans than ever.

Broadband drives economic growth and innovation – including advances in health care, education, and public safety. Since its launch in 2011, the National Broadband Map has been helping businesses and consumers access broadband by detailing where and what types of high-speed Internet services are available in their communities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today published the federal agencies’ transition plans for vacating or sharing spectrum bands set to be auctioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this fall.

Building on Administration efforts to make more spectrum available for commercial mobile broadband, NTIA and the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) today issued a Joint Public Notice seeking comment on the possibility of establishing a “Model City” for demonstrating and evaluating advanced spectrum sharing technologies.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced the appointment of experts from the private and nonprofit sectors to serve on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC), which provides advice and expertise on a wide-range of spectrum policy and technical issues.

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.

Remarks by Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
ICANN High Level Governmental Meeting
London, United Kingdom
June 23, 2014

--As prepared for delivery--

Thank you, Minister.  I'm very pleased to be here today at the High Level Governmental Meeting and I want to thank you Minister Ed Vaizey and his staff for organizing this discussion.

Three years ago this month, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) endorsed a set of principles that encouraged its members to implement policies that call for a common approach to Internet policymaking that center on ensuring the openness of the Internet.

NTIA today released the Fourth Interim Progress Report on the Obama Administration’s initiative to identify and make available 500 megahertz of federal and non-federal spectrum for commercial wireless broadband use by 2020.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking public comment on how developments related to “big data” impact the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

With the start of summer comes the beginning of the hurricane season along much of the U.S. coast.  And with hurricanes comes the increased possibility that communications could be disrupted.

Today NTIA is hosting the first of several workshops focused on community broadband as we explore ways to build on the momentum of our successful broadband grant programs and look at what comes next.

Angela Simpson
Deputy Assistant Secretary

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

SHLB 2014 Annual Conference
Washington, DC
May 9, 2014

As Prepared for Delivery

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.

“With their own laptops, they can do their homework anytime. And then, all of a sudden, you see the homework, you see the projects being done, and the scientific research symposiums that they’re applying to. You see them taking it a little bit further with the scholarship applications.” – MESA Director, Skyline Community College, CA (Foundation for California Community Colleges partner)

This blog is cross posted on the U.S. Department of State’s blog

“Without broadband, they can't get jobs, and it's as simple as that.” – Georgetown Job Center Coordinator (Delaware Department of Libraries BTOP PCC Project)

Remarks by Anthony Wilhelm
Acting Chief of Staff
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
2014 Broadband Communities Summit
Broadband, Economic Development and Global Competitiveness
Austin, Texas
April 10, 2014

--As prepared for delivery--

I. Be “Open for Business” in the Global Economy

Remarks of Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Silicon Flatirons Conference on
The Digital Broadband Migration: After the Internet Protocol Revolution
Boulder, Colorado
February 9, 2014

–As Prepared for Delivery–

The growing proliferation of wireless devices is prompting heightened interest in and demand for spectrum used by federal agencies. In response, NTIA today is launching Spectrum.gov, a new website aimed at providing greater transparency regarding how federal government agencies utilize spectrum.