News and Events

WASHINGTON– Today the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched a new mapping tool, the NTIA Permitting and Environmental Information Application, to help grant recipients and others deploying infrastructure identify permit requirements and avoid potential environmental impacts when connecting a particular location to high-speed Internet service. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Wednesday filed in support of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s proposal to reinstate strong net neutrality rules.

Restoring the 2015 net neutrality rules will drive innovation, economic growth and the free exchange of ideas by ensuring the Internet remains open, secure and accessible to all.

WASHINGTON – Today the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) announced that it will make a 2017 program comment establishing streamlined historic preservation permitting rules for communications infrastructure projects on federal lands available to all Internet for All programs and broadband projects from all federal agencies, both on and off federal lands.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released the National Spectrum Strategy Implementation Plan, a public roadmap to meet the goals of the National Spectrum Strategy. 

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched a Request for Comment on the risks, benefits and potential policy related to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models with widely available model weights – the core component of AI systems.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Maine’s Digital Equity plan. Maine is the first state to reach this important milestone.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded $42 million in the final award from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund’s first Notice of Funding Opportunity. Additional awards will come after NTIA issues the next Notice of Funding Opportunity.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded nearly $80 million in the third round of grants from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund’s first Notice of Funding Opportunity. This round includes the first awards in the Testing & Evaluation (T&E) category, designed to expand industry-accepted T&E activities, making testing more accessible to the entire wireless ecosystem.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host a public listening session January 18 to learn about current and future industry efforts to promote the health, safety and privacy of young people online. 

WASHINGTON –The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Federal Register Notice to seek expressions of interest from individuals who would like to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority Board or Board). The Board works closely with the FirstNet Authority management and is responsible for providing overall policy direction and strategic guidance.

Louisiana Becomes the First State Authorized to Request Access to BEAD Funds 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Louisiana’s Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.

WASHINGTON – Today the Biden-Harris Administration released a National Spectrum Strategy identifying more than 2,700 megahertz of airwaves to study for innovative new uses by both the private sector and federal agencies. President Biden also released the Presidential Memorandum on Modernizing United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy, which will promote a trustworthy, predictable and evidenced-based process for ensuring spectrum serves its highest and best use.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Communications Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reinstate open Internet protections. The following statement can be attributed to Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator:

WASHINGTON – “Spectrum is foundational to our economic prosperity and global technological leadership, from high-speed wireless internet access, to connected vehicles and smart manufacturing, to the next generation of space-based innovation.  Spectrum is also vital to our most sensitive and important Federal missions, including military radar operations for homeland security, the training of our war fighters before they deploy overseas, and our ability to develop new and advanced military capabilities.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded 28 grants totaling $74,424,986.73 to 28 Tribal entities as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).  

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking comment on best practices to protect minors’ mental health, safety and privacy online.

America’s young people are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis. There’s growing evidence social media and other online platforms are contributing to this crisis.