Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the CHIPS and Science Act enabled the Department of Commerce to invest $50 billion to “supercharge” domestic semiconductor production.
She said the investment begins a new chapter in U.S. innovation and R&D, according to a Sept. 19 news release.
“As Secretary of Commerce, I have one overarching goal: improving America’s competitiveness so all our workers and companies can succeed in the global economy,” Raimondo said according to the release.
An NTIA-administered innovation fund that will help improve 5G networks and boost domestic manufacturing will receive more than $1 billion of that funding, the release reported. The discussion now deals with the spectrum, which she said is a limited resource and unlike chips can’t be manufactured. Its role in the economy, government services, safety and security make it critical.
“Spectrum enables the every day and the extraordinary, from being able to watch videos on your phone to powering our mission to the Moon,” Raimondo said in the release.
With the Commerce Department, NOAA’s radars use it to track severe weather, forecasting with satellites and hurricane-hunter aircraft that use it to predict how storms evolve, according to the release.
She expressed gratefulness to FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Defense Department CIO John Sherman and a number of private sector leaders, the release reported.
