WASHINGTON, DC - The Communications and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), today held its first hearing of the 115th Congress with a holistic examination of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Established in 1978, the NTIA and its administrator were tasked with serving as the president’s principal advisor on communications policy. The NTIA administrator serves as the coordinator of government spectrum allocations, and voice of the administration at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and in Congress. Despite NTIA’s important role on communications and information policy, it has not been reauthorized since 1992. Members discussed NTIA’s role moving forward in the efficient use of federally held spectrum, its role in broadband deployment, and its role in promoting safe, secure communications networks.
Witnesses Ready to Testify at Today’s Hearing
In her testimony, Meredith Attwell Baker, President and CEO at CTIA and former Acting Administrator at NTIA, discussed the importance of NTIA’s role moving forward, stating, “There are limited additional opportunities for the FCC to make more spectrum available on its own. That is why NTIA’s role is so important - more so than ever before. … In light of the extraordinary value of spectrum to private and public entities, NTIA must have the prominence and resources to perform its critical tasks."
John M.R. Kneuer, President and Founder of JKC Consulting and former NTIA Administrator, noted NTIA’s role when it comes to cyber defense and security, commenting, “By providing the perspective of industry into the inter-agency process, NTIA can help bridge the gap between the executive branch interests with national and homeland security responsibilities and key private sector interests so that they all support our collective cyber-defenses. Similarly, NTIA can serve as a conduit from government agencies with cyber responsibilities to the private sector to ensure that information flows in both directions to maximum affect."
“As the challenges of Internet-related policies continue to evolve and present themselves, it is critical to have a strong NTIA that can help the U.S. Government represent U.S. interests in setting productive policies that allow for continued innovation and growth in the global digital economy," added Anna M. Gomez, Partner at Wiley Rein LLP and former Acting Administrator at NTIA.
“The communications sector is vibrant and thriving, and the government agencies that handle these issues should reflect that. We must ensure that we empower NTIA to be as effective and efficient as possible in combatting cyber attacks and promoting strong public safety networks. NTIA will be an essential player in spectrum allocation and broadband deployment in any discussions moving forward," concluded Chairman Blackburn. “It is far past time that we again reauthorize the agency, and a first step in the process is to examine the role of the agency, past, present, and future in crafting policies that will achieve our goals."
A background memo, witness testimony, and an archived webcast of the markup can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website HERE. Related Items
* HEARING: Next Week #SubCommTech to Take Holistic Look at NTIA
See Also
* Reauthorization of NTIA
