News and Publications

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it is proposing new rules to guide its review of fees that the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) may assess pursuant to its statute. The framework is intended to enable FirstNet to operate in a competitive marketplace, giving it the flexibility it needs to meet its business and budgetary goals.

Statement of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade’s announcement that he plans to leave the organization next year:

WASHINGTON – Today, the President’s interagency Broadband Opportunity Council (BOC) announced it is seeking public comment on how federal agencies can promote broadband deployment, adoption and competition.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force, through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), today released a document developed by stakeholders containing a set of agreed upon practices aimed at improving the operation of the notice and takedown system under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced it will be releasing the second phase of previously-awarded grant funding for states and territories to begin collecting data necessary to plan for the nationwide public safety broadband network being developed by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Internet Policy Task Force (IPTF) announced today it is seeking public input on potential topics addressing key cybersecurity issues facing the digital economy that could be best addressed by a consensus-based multistakeholder process.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced it is seeking comment on a new multistakeholder process aimed at developing privacy best practices for the commercial and private use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The public is invited to submit suggestions concerning the structure of the multistakeholder engagement and the substantive issues stakeholders will discuss.

WASHINGTON  –  The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new independent research study today showing that its broadband grants program resulted in billions of dollars in economic benefits to the communities served, including increased economic output and higher levels of employment.

Joint statement of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling following their biannual meeting Thursday:

WASHINGTON – A report released today by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) found that Americans are rapidly embracing mobile Internet devices such as smart phones and tablet computers for a wide range of activities beyond just voice communications, such as checking email and using social networks.

“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

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.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON – To support and enhance the multistakeholder model of Internet policymaking and governance, the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announces its intent to transition key Internet domain name functions to the global multistakeholder community.  As the first step, NTIA is asking the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to convene global stakeholders to develop a proposal to transition the current role played by NTIA in the coordination of the Internet’s domain name system (DNS). 

Statement of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on the European Commission statement on Internet governance:

Joint statement from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on the NTIA and FCC’s Biannual Spectrum Planning meeting on Friday, January 3^rd to discuss their agencies’ complementary roles with respect to commercial and Federal use of spectrum, including efforts to make available 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband:             

DENVER – First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board Chairman Sam Ginn announced that he has named Board member Sue Swenson as vice chairman. Ginn tasked Swenson with overseeing the Board’s extensive planning and oversight work. 

DENVER – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board today approved separate agreements with the State of New Jersey and Adams County, Colo. allowing them to lease access to FirstNet’s spectrum. With the approval of these agreements, FirstNet has entered in to four separate spectrum lease agreements with public safety Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grantees.