Technology in Service of Human Progress: NTIA’s Accomplishments in the Biden-Harris Administration

During Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson’s tenure under the Biden-Harris Administration, NTIA has advanced key initiatives, from bridging the digital divide to optimizing federal spectrum resources and fostering the development of a more inclusive and efficient Internet. These accomplishments highlight the substantial impact NTIA had during Assistant Secretary Davidson’s tenure at NTIA and will continue to have in shaping a more connected and equitable future for all. 

Closing the Digital Divide 

The Internet is now the essential tool for communications in our modern world.  Yet, millions of people across the country continue to lack access to a high-speed Internet connection or lack the means and the skills to use it.  Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) significant investment of $65 billion, in addition to funding provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, NTIA is well on its way to ensuring everyone in America has access to reliable, affordable, high speed Internet service.        

Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program 

• The BEAD program provided $42.45 billion in federal funding to all 56 states and territories (Eligible Entities) for broadband infrastructure deployment and adoption.  NTIA allocated these funds among the Eligible Entities based on a formula in the BIL, and has now obligated all available BEAD funding to the Eligible Entities.  
• BEAD efforts are well underway: 
  • Each Eligible Entity has received approval of its BEAD Initial Proposal and, subject to the terms and conditions of each award, can access a portion of its BEAD allocation to start implementing its proposal to connect every unserved and underserved location within its borders to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service. 
  • Thirty-nine (39) Eligible Entities have concluded their challenge process to determine which locations within their borders are eligible for service through BEAD-funded projects. 
  • Twenty-two (22) Eligible Entities have begun their subgrantee selection process, selecting the providers that will build the networks to connect the unconnected. 
  • Three (3) Eligible Entities have submitted their Final Proposals, outlining the results of their subgrantee selection process, for NTIA review and approval. 

Digital Equity Act Programs 

• The Digital Equity Act provided $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs designed to provide individuals with the necessary digital skills, devices, and other tools to fully participate in the digital economy. 
  • Through the State Planning Grant program, NTIA made available more than $54 million in grants to   states and territories to develop their own digital equity plans. For the first time in American history, every state and territory has developed and adopted its own digital equity plan.  
  • Through the State Capacity Grant program, NTIA has approved and recommended for award more than $750 million in grants to every state and territory to implement their plans. 
  • The Competitive Grant program made nearly $1 billion available to organizations such as city and county governments, Native entities, nonprofits, community anchor institutions, local educational agencies, and workforce development organizations to support programs that ensure communities have access to devices and skills to promote broadband adoption and use. To date, NTIA has recommended for approval more than $250 million in grant applications to 24 entities covering 39 states and territories. 

Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program 

• Through the $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, NTIA is making the largest investment ever for broadband deployment on Tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. 
• The first round of funding resulted in awards totaling $1.86 billion to 226 Tribal entities, and those projects have already connected or lowered Internet costs for more than 4,500 Tribal homes. 
• The second round of funding made up to $980 million available, and NTIA has announced more than $348 million in awards in this round for broadband infrastructure, adoption, and use initiatives. 

Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program 

• NTIA has awarded nearly $980 million to deploy over 12,500 miles of new middle mile fiber to 36 organizations across 40 states and territories.   
• This investment will build new and resilient Internet highways that help lower the cost for last-mile providers to deploy future networks. Grantees have begun breaking ground, and 3,200 miles of fiber are already under construction.  

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program 

• NTIA has awarded more than $262 million to 93 universities including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). These awards are being used to address the disparities these universities experience in their capabilities and resources for Internet access and adoption.   
• Grantees from the Pilot Program have distributed more than 24,000 devices to students at MSIs and members of their surrounding communities to date. Grantees are graduating fiber technician apprentices, training students in emerging skills like 3D printing, and enabling career changes. 

Broadband Infrastructure Program 

• Through the Broadband Infrastructure Program, NTIA made 14 awards totaling more than $288 million in funding to support broadband infrastructure deployment in unserved areas, especially rural areas. 
• This funding has made service available to more than 40,000 previously unserved households. 

Improving Spectrum Access: 

Radio frequency spectrum plays a central, if unseen, role in American life. Enabling everything from the cell phones in our pockets to the satellites that help predict the weather, spectrum is among our Nation’s most vital and scarce national resources. The growing importance of connectivity, data, and intelligent applications promises increasing spectrum demand in the years to come—both from the private sector and to meet important federal missions. For the past three years, NTIA has done the hard work needed to maintain the U.S. position as the world leader in wireless technology. 

National Spectrum Strategy and Implementation Plan 

• The National Spectrum Strategy, released November 13, 2023, is the first-of-its-kind blueprint to modernize spectrum policy and maintain U.S. leadership in advanced wireless technologies and services. Among other things, the Strategy identifies over 2,700 megahertz of spectrum to study for potential new uses by both the private sector and federal agencies, including more than 1,600 megahertz of midband spectrum—a frequency range in high demand for next-generation services like 5G and 6G.  
• The follow-up Implementation Plan provides a detailed roadmap for the Strategy, and NTIA is well on its way towards executing it. For example, in November 2024, the Department of Defense and NTIA completed a study of the Lower 37 GHz band, paving the way for a co-equal, shared-use framework for government and commercial users. And, last month, NTIA announced that all federal agency requests for funding to complete the Lower 3 GHz and 7/8 GHz band studies have been approved. 
• The Technical Panel – led by NTIA and comprising the FCC and OMB – has approved 16 Spectrum Pipeline plans to provide nearly $790 million to study the 7/8 GHz and Lower 3 GHz bands. 

Updated MOU with the FCC 

• For the first time in 20 years, NTIA and the Federal Communications Commission in 2022 updated their Memorandum of Understanding governing coordination of spectrum matters. The MOU has created a strong culture of collaboration that is helping synchronize spectrum management policies that support the development and deployment of innovative technologies nationwide. 

Building a Better Internet: 

As the Internet evolves, new challenges emerge. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, NTIA has been committed to ensuring everyone is able to access a free and open Internet and can do so safely and securely, both at home and abroad. 

Artificial Intelligence 

• Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems can bring enormous benefits to people, but the promise of AI can only be realized by ensuring equitable access to the opportunities its developments present and addressing the risks that exist today.  Guided by the dual goals of maximizing AI’s benefits and mitigating its risks, NTIA delivered two major AI policy initiatives in 2024 and actively contributed to international efforts on AI policy.  
  • The AI Accountability Policy Report provides policy recommendations to help AI system developers and deployers show that their systems work as intended and can be trusted not to cause harm. The Report calls for:  
    • improved transparency into AI systems,   
    • independent evaluations to verify the claims made about these systems, and   
    • consequences for imposing unacceptable risks or making unfounded claims.   
  • The Report on Dual-Use Foundation Models with Widely Available Model Weights addresses the growing impact and potential risks of foundational models—large pre-trained AI systems— across a wide variety of uses.  The Report supports making key components of these powerful AI models widely available but also calls for active government monitoring for potential risks that arise. 
• NTIA also contributed to the G7 Code of Conduct for Advanced AI Developers, which aims to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI worldwide.  

Kids’ Online Health and Safety 

• The Biden-Harris Administration launched the Kids Online Health and Safety interagency Task Force in May 2023 to address the health, safety and privacy of minors online. The Task Force, led by NTIA and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, released a report to promote a healthier and safer online experience for youth in America.  
• The report, Online Health and Safety for Children and Youth: Best Practices for Families and Guidance for Industry, recommended key actions industry can take to improve digital safety while empowering parents and educators with the tools to support youth in navigating the online environment. 
• NTIA also led the development of a joint statement between the United State and the UK on Child Online Safety, launching cooperation between these two countries on this critical topic. 

Competition in the Mobile App Ecosystem 

• To address growing concerns about market dominance and lack of fairness in the app marketplace, NTIA undertook an extensive investigation of the competitive conditions in the mobile app ecosystem. 
• NTIA subsequently released the Competition in the Mobile Application Ecosystem report, offering policy recommendations aimed at fostering a more equitable environment with greater competition and innovation, benefiting both users and developers.  

Internet Use Survey 

• NTIA has long been committed to enabling widespread use of the Internet and using solid, evidence-backed research to inform policies and programs to reach this goal.  
• Last year, NTIA celebrated 30 years of conducting the Internet Use Survey with the U.S. Census Bureau. This collaboration has produced the longest-running and most comprehensive national survey of computer and Internet use in the United States and allows NTIA and other stakeholders to design targeted, evidenced-based policies and initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide. 
• NTIA also worked with the U.S. Census Bureau to produce single-year estimates of Internet adoption for small areas, addressing a key gap in available data to better serve the policymaking process. This initiative is known as Local Estimates of Internet Adoption, or Project LEIA. NTIA will continue to work with Census on developing and refining this important measure. 

International Cooperation and Internet Governance 

• NTIA is committed to the continued growth of the Internet. As the Internet evolves, new challenges emerge. As a key stakeholder, NTIA engages with the multistakeholder system of Internet governance to protect the interests of consumers and ensure the health and resilience of the Internet around the world. NTIA has continued to reinforce the importance of the multistakeholder system of Internet governance in a variety of ways. 
• NTIA renewed its existing Cooperative Agreement with Verisign, the registry operator for the .com Top Level Domain, to help ensure the stability and resilience of .com and provide important restraints on Verisign’s market prices. 
• In October 2023, NTIA engaged in a number of efforts leading up to and at the 2023 Internet Governance Forum (IGF2023) in Kyoto, Japan, aimed at supporting and strengthening the multistakeholder system of Internet governance, including an event on promoting a multilingual Internet. In December 2024, NTIA organized a follow-on event at IGF2024. 
• In June 2024, Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson led the U.S. Delegation to the ICANN80 High Level Government Meeting (HLGM) and Policy Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, where he joined leaders from around the world to promote the multistakeholder system of Internet governance as part of the ICANN80 Policy Forum.  
• NTIA provided grant funding for and collaborated with the United States Telecommunication Training Institute (USTTI) on programs to empower and develop African youth and women tech leaders and entrepreneurs. 
• NTIA proudly supported whole-of-government effort to elect Doreen Bogden-Martin as Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), making her the first woman to hold this position in the ITU’s 159-year history and the first American to serve in the role since 1965.   
• NTIA committed to sharing its lessons learned through the Internet for All programs through the ITU’s Partner2Connect program and began delivering on this pledge by meeting with more than 15 governments on connectivity. 

Supporting Wireless Innovation Domestically and Internationally: 

5G and other wireless technologies are already changing our world for the better, and they have the potential to do even more. Although 5G is dynamic, the 5G equipment market is static. A small group of companies dominate the market, some of whom pose a serious national security threat. The lack of competition degrades supply chains, drives up prices, and prevents emerging players from entering the market. NTIA has been leading efforts to drive wireless innovation, competition, and supply chain resilience for 5G and beyond. 

Open RAN (Radio Access Network) 

• Traditional networks rely on a single company to supply every component. Open RAN, on the other hand, is interoperable. Network architects can curate parts from different suppliers to build the best possible network. New suppliers can now enter the market with one part instead of an entire network architecture. By transitioning to Open RAN, the U.S. and partner countries can help the wireless ecosystem flourish for 5G and beyond. 
• NTIA is advancing Open RAN through the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which has awarded over $413 million to 24 projects to boost the development of open and interoperable wireless networks and equipment in the U.S., ensuring that America’s wireless infrastructure is secure, competitive, and future proof. 
• Last month, NTIA made up to $450 million available under a Notice of Funding Opportunity for software-focused Open RAN innovation. 
• Late in 2024, NTIA published a Federal Register Notice seeking non-government candidates for the Innovation Fund Advisory Committee. 
• NTIA is leading U.S. participation in the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), a coalition with the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Japan that aims to build broader international consensus on key areas of telecom policy, including the promotion of Open RAN.  
• NTIA secured bilateral MOUs to enhance cooperation on 5G and Open RAN with the Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia. 
• NTIA contributed to the development of the Prague Proposals on Telecommunication Supplier Diversity, which details the role of governments to promote Open RAN and supplier diversification and has been endorsed by 10 governments. 
• In 2024, NTIA spearheaded the establishment of the International Open RAN Symposium, a global event that brought together over 250 industry, academia, and government participants from over 20 countries to discuss testing and R&D, policy considerations, and international coordination for Open RAN adoption. This annual event will take place again in 2025. 

5G Challenge 

• NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, launched the 5G Challenge to accelerate the adoption of 5G open interfaces, interoperable subsystems, secure networks, and multi-vendor solutions.   
• The Challenge awarded $10,000,000 in cash and in-kind prizes to high-performing 5G subsystems, culminating in the first-known mobility testing in a lab environment, while also fostering a large, vibrant, and growing vendor community dedicated to advancing 5G interoperability towards true plug-and-play operation. 

6G  

• NTIA launched a Request for Comment on how U.S. government policies can support the development of the next mobile generation. 
• NTIA coordinated international cooperation efforts on 6G, including developing a U.S.-EU joint 6G vision and gaining wide support for a multilateral statement of principles endorsed by ten governments.  

Supporting Public Safety: 

Public safety communications are a critical tool for first responders, such as law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, 9-1-1 and emergency management. NTIA works to ensure that first responders have the tools to effectively communicate. 

First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) 

• FirstNet Authority was established in light of September 11, 2001, to create the nation’s first dedicated public safety broadband network, which equips first responders to save lives. NTIA supports FirstNet Authority in its efforts to deploy, operate, and maintain the network. 
• As of October 2024, approximately 6.4 million device connections across more than 29,000 public safety agencies are using FirstNet Authority. 
• Early in 2024, the FirstNet Authority Board approved a 10-year investment plan valued at over $8 billion to upgrade the FirstNet Network to 5G technologies and to expand network coverage for first responders.   
• Throughout 2024, NTIA led the recruitment and appointment of eleven experienced and highly qualified members for Secretary Raimondo, including public safety, technology, and business leaders, to the FirstNet Authority Board. 

Next Generation 9-1-1 

• NTIA supports the 9-1-1 community by providing 9-1-1 officials with best practices for the implementation of NG9-1-1 technologies to improve emergency response for the American public. Through the 9-1-1 network, NG9-1-1 will bring 9-1-1 technologies into the 21st century by creating interoperable and resilient systems that allow voice, photos, videos, and text messages to flow seamlessly from the public, to first responders.