Innovation Fund Advisory Committee
Overview
The Innovation Fund Advisory Committee (IFAC) will advise the Secretary of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator on the administration of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (Innovation Fund).
The Innovation Fund is a $1.5 billion competitive grants program aimed at facilitating the adoption of open and interoperable radio access networks to drive wireless innovation, competition, and supply chain resilience.
Pursuant to the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, the IFAC will provide advice on technology developments to help inform 1) the strategic direction of the Innovation Fund and 2) efforts of the Federal Government to promote a more secure, diverse, sustainable, and competitive supply chain.
Establishing Legislation
The IFAC is authorized by Section 9202(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-283, codified at 47 U.S.C. § 906(a)(1). It is chartered by the Department of Commerce under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (FACA), 5 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., and pursuant to Section 105(b) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 904(b).
Duration/Establishment Date
Established on October 8, 2024. Continuing for two years.
Leadership & Membership
Leadership:
The NTIA Administrator will appoint a Chair and Vice Chair from among the members of the IFAC.
Membership:
Members of the IFAC will be appointed by the NTIA Administrator. The IFAC will have at least ten (10) and generally no more than twenty-five (25) members, including representatives from NTIA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); the Department of Defense (DOD); the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); the Department of State (DOS); the National Science Foundation (NSF); the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and other representatives from the private and public sectors at the discretion of the NTIA Administrator.
Non-Federal members of the IFAC will serve either as Representatives or as Special Government Employees (SGEs) depending on whether they are appointed for their individual perspectives and viewpoints; or are appointed for their individual expertise and experience, respectively. For general information regarding advisory committee membership designations, please refer to page 36 of the Public Site Help Manual for the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Database.
Members will be highly qualified to provide advice and information on technology developments, research and development, lab testing, interoperability, integration, certification and standards, network function virtualization, commercial deployments, security, and/or economic competitiveness related to open and interoperable 5G and future generation communication networks.
In particular, NTIA seeks technical experts with strong open and interoperable network deployment experience, familiarity with 5G and successor wireless technologies, or expertise with specific applications of wireless technologies.
Members will be announced at a future date. Members will serve two-year terms commencing in approximately Spring 2025.
Key Documents
The IFAC charter is the committee’s foundational governance document. It specifies the committee’s mission and general operational characteristics.
The IFAC membership balance plan outlines how NTIA will achieve a balanced committee membership in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (FACA) 5 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.
FACA Database - Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Advisory Committee
The IFAC Database is a publicly accessible resource with information about federal advisory committees, including the IFAC.
Contact Information
Richard Upchurch, Designated Federal Officer, 202-617-6592, [email protected]