NTIA Does End-Run Around 'Buy American' Requirements

From BroadbandCensus.com Weekly Report

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2009 – The broadband policy world took a number of significant steps forward last week with the confirmation on Thursday of Larry Strickling as the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and of Julius Genachowski as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Officials from telecommunications and equipment providers, including Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent and others, also scored a significant victory when the NTIA on Friday issued an order that exempts broadband switching and routing equipment from the “Buy America” provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Strickling is expected to begin work on Monday, and not a day too soon. The White House has long promised June 30 as the date by which the Commerce Department agency would release rules pertaining to the $7.2 bil¬lion broadband stimulus package, with $4.7 billion flowing through the NTIA. Sources at the NTIA said the rules will be released on either Tuesday, June 30, or by Wednesday, July 1, at the latest.

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