NTIA’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) is principally responsible for advising the President on international telecommunications and information policy issues. OIA plays an important role in the formulation of international information and communications technology (ICT) policies and strategies to foster cross-border innovation, expression, and commerce. The office shapes policy with or before international institutions, foreign governments, Congress, and domestic and international stakeholders. OIA is also the U.S. government’s most prominent champion of the multistakeholder approach to Internet governance and inclusive policymaking in other countries.
In addition, OIA sustains NTIA’s role as the executive branch expert on issues relating to the Internet’s domain name system (DNS), a critical aspect of Internet infrastructure. In this regard, OIA represents the U.S. government in its interactions with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the not-for-profit corporation that coordinates the technical management of the DNS. OIA leads the interagency process to prepare for meetings of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and ensures that the GAC maintains its appropriate role as an advisory body within the broad ICANN community. OIA also oversees the management of the .US and .EDU Top Level Domains.
OIA also supports the development and deployment of secure, reliable 5G infrastructure, including open and interoperable networks. It does so by fostering global consensus and coordination on policies to facilitate robust, competitive 5G markets and industry-led innovation. OIA engages with a wide range of foreign governments, international fora, and non-governmental stakeholders in support of these priorities. OIA also co-leads the interagency Vendor Diversity Working Group, which works to coordinate U.S. government efforts to reduce barriers for new market entrants; to increase the diversity of vendors offering 5G network equipment and services; and to promote the development of open, interoperable networks. Additionally, OIA contributes to ICT standards development processes, international capacity-building efforts, and U.S. interagency policymaking on matters related to diverse 5G ecosystems.
OIA advances U.S. positions on ICT policy and standards at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU is a treaty-based body originally founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks. OIA works with U.S. government colleagues, industry, and Internet stakeholders to develop and advocate for positions that continue to keep open and interoperable networks worldwide. In the ITU’s Standardization Sector, OIA promotes technical standards that preserve our economic security, facilitate U.S. technology leadership globally, and enhance the resilience of cyberspace; and addresses barriers to coordination and collaboration with other industry-led standards development efforts. Similarly, in the ITU’s Development Sector, OIA supports capacity-building efforts to improve communications access and digital inclusion for underserved communities worldwide.
Associate Administrator: Jaisha Wray
Contact
Office of International Affairs
National Telecommunications & Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 4701
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: (202) 482-1866
Fax: (202) 482-1865