News and Events

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the appointment of six leaders in public safety, technology and network financing to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Request for Comments on a proposed approach to consumer data privacy designed to provide high levels of protection for individuals, while giving organizations legal clarity and the flexibility to innovate.

Today, NTIA and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) announced that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has reappointed Edward Horowitz to the FirstNet Board and named him Chair of the Board for a two-year term. Additionally, FirstNet Authority CEO Mike Poth has accepted a position in the private sector and will assist with transition efforts before leaving his position at the end of September.

Today, FirstNet Board Chair Sue Swenson and Vice Chair Jeffrey Johnson notified Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Redl of their resignation from the FirstNet board. Formal letters of resignation have been submitted to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced final rules for a grant program that will offer up to $110 million to help states, territories, tribal organizations and the District of Columbia upgrade their 911 call centers to Next Generation (NG911) capabilities.

BACKGROUND:  In 2011, China Mobile applied for a Section 214 license through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to offer telecommunications services from within the United States. Per international licensing procedures, the FCC requested Executive Branch views on whether the application for the license was in the public interest of the United States.

The following statement is from David J. Redl, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, U.S. Department of Commerce:

Today, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator David J. Redl issued the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission's vote on actions to open access to high-band spectrum for 5G connectivity:

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a report that offers a guide to government, civil society and industry actions that would dramatically reduce the threat of botnets and similar cyberattacks.

Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator David J. Redl issued the following statements on the Federal Communications Commission's vote approving a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to streamline the licensing process for small satellites:

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced a five-year cooperative research and development agreement with the University of Colorado Boulder to develop a wireless test bed. NTIA’s Boulder-based Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) will work with the university to install spectrum monitoring sensors throughout the CU Boulder campus, with data to be available to both parties for spectrum management research.

Today, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator David J. Redl issued the following statement on the passing of Ray Baum, staff director for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce:

WASHINGTON –  Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a draft report to President Trump in response to the May 11, 2017, Presidential Executive Order on Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure.

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) announced that all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have accepted FirstNet and AT&T’s proposals to design and build a broadband network for the public safety community. Guam, the Pacific Territories of American Samoa, and the Mariana Islands have until March 12, 2018, to make their decision.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the issuing of a notice of proposed rulemaking that outlines implementing regulations for the 911 Grant Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today issued a final rule regarding its review of fees that the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) may assess to help fund operations. The final rule makes clear that NTIA will ensure that the fees FirstNet assesses are sufficient to cover its expenses but do not exceed what is needed to carry out its duties.

Statement of John Morris, Associate Administrator for NTIA's Office of Policy Analysis and Development, on the U.S. Copyright Office study of Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act:

Statement of Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) incentive auction:

I want to congratulate the Commission and the staff at the FCC for their hard work in satisfying the Final Stage Rule for the incentive auction. This 84 megahertz of spectrum for licensed and unlicensed wireless broadband represents significant further progress to meet the President’s 500 megahertz goal.

The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a report proposing steps the Department can take to advance the Internet of Things (IoT). The “green paper” examines the benefits and challenges of the evolving IoT landscape and suggests that the U.S. government should continue to foster an enabling environment for innovative technology to grow and thrive.

Cross-posted from the Department of Commerce blog.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker received a series of recommendations from members of the Digital Economy Board of Advisors that identify key actions the U.S. Department of Commerce can take to support the digital economy, encourage growth and increase opportunity.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced the appointment by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker of outside experts 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.

Statement from Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling:

The federal court in Galveston, Texas denied the plaintiffs’ application for declaratory and injunctive relief. As of October 1, 2016, the IANA functions contract has expired.

Statement of Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Department of Commerce - Property Implications of Proposed Transition of U.S.

WASHINGTON – The U.S.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that the proposal developed by the global Internet multistakeholder community meets the criteria NTIA outlined in March 2014 when it stated its intent to transition the U.S. Government’s stewardship role for the Internet domain name system (DNS) technical functions, known as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that as part of the Department’s Digital Economy Agenda, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Request for Comment (RFC) on questions posed by the growth of the Internet of Things (IOT). This Request is an important step in the Department’s continued effort to promote the Internet of Things, the broad category of devices, appliances, and objects that can be connected via the Internet.