Publications

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
launched this two-phase study of interference protection criteria (IPC) in order to
compile, explain and validate, modify or supplement the levels of protection from
interference that are generally expected and provided for various radiocommunication
systems. The study is an integral part of President Bush’s Spectrum Policy Initiative
that was established in May 2003 to promote the development and implementation of a
United States spectrum policy for the 21st century. The Secretary of Commerce then
established a Federal Government Spectrum Task Force and initiated a series of public
meetings to address improvements in policies affecting spectrum use by the Federal
Government, State, and local governments, and the private sector. The
recommendations resulting from these activities were included in a two-part series of
reports released by the Secretary of Commerce in June 2004, under the title Spectrum
Policy for the 21st Century - The Presidents Spectrum Policy Initiative. Based on the
recommendations contained in these Reports, the President directed the federal
agencies on November 30, 2004, to plan the implementation of the 24
recommendations contained in the Reports. There were several recommendations that
will consider the interference protection criteria contained in this study including:
• assessment of new technologies and their impact on incumbent
radiocommunications;
• managing interference;
• development of a “Best Practices Handbook” for spectrum engineering;
• establishment a pilot program and long-range plan for improved sharing of
spectrum between federal and non-federal entities; and
• creation of new analytical computer models that will facilitate spectrum
engineering.

Report by the Federal Rights-of-Way Working Group
April 2004

Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide -- HTML version

A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet provides an insightful look at how Americans are increasing their connectivity to information technologies.  We are fortunate to be able to base our findings on the September 2001 U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey – a survey of approximately 57,000 households and more than 137,000 individuals across the United States.  As such, the data in this study are among the most broad-based and reliable datasets that have been gathered on Internet, broadband, and computer connectivity.

A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet is available in two formats:

• HTML
• PDF
• For the convenience of researchers, the charts detailing percentages of U.S. households with a computer and with Internet access are posted separately.
• The Census Bureau’s Survey Instrument and Raw Data is available at https://www.census.gov

This report highlights the dramatic growth of broadband in the United States.  The report shows that the Administration’s technology, regulatory and fiscal policies have stimulated innovation and competition, and encouraged investment in the U.S. broadband market contributing to significantly increased accessibility of broadband services.