Newsroom

By Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12 to 18), we recognize the dedicated professionals who answer 9-1-1 calls and coordinate lifesaving responses every hour of every day. They are the backbone of our nation’s emergency response system.

WASHINGTON—Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce announced a major milestone in repurposing the 2.7 GHz band for full-power commercial licensed use—clearing a key technical review and advancing America’s 6G leadership. 

Almost 57 years after President Richard Nixon’s long-distance telephone call to the Apollo 11 astronauts—via radio

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that Secretary Howard Lutnick has partnered with AT&T to secure an additional $2 billion in value to benefit public safety under the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) contract.

WASHINGTON – Statement by Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth regarding the use of the $21 billion savings achieved in the BEAD program through the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms:

"For the past few weeks, NTIA has received an extraordinary level of interest and feedback concerning our approach to using the $21 billion in savings achieved through the Benefit of the Bargain reforms to the BEAD program.

The following statement can be attributed to Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator:

Statement by Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth on the Nomination of Adam Cassady as Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy:

WASHINGTON – Today, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Arielle Roth announced her political leadership team in the Office of the Assistant Secretary.

It was full steam ahead for the BEAD program this week, as NTIA works to get the program over the finish line and considers its next phase: how to effectively invest the remaining BEAD funds.

On Monday, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth announced that NTIA has now approved 50 out of 56 BEAD Final Proposals from states and territories, moving one step closer to ensuring universal broadband availability across America.

Researchers from NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunications Sciences (ITS) designed a cross-disciplinary, collaborative workshop to explore ways to reliably expand access to mid-band spectrum.

The following statement can be attributed to Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator:

“NTIA applauds the approval of SpaceX’s Gen2 Version 3 application by the FCC, a decisive step toward expanding satellite connectivity and strengthening U.S. leadership in next-generation communications technologies.

Tribal Consultations to be Held in January 2026 to Help Guide Reform

WASHINGTON — Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce announced it is recommending nine applications for award, totaling approximately $6.5 million, under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). These Equitable Distribution awards are designed to accelerate broadband connectivity for Tribal communities nationwide, consistent with the program’s authorizing legislation.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the administration of .us—the country code Top Level Domain for the United States (usTLD).

Thanks to Benefit of the Bargain Reforms, Texas Saves $2 Billion while Achieving Universal Connectivity

WASHINGTON—Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the approval of Texas’ Final Proposal to deliver universal broadband access throughout the state through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.