NTIA
The BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments Filed April 13
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2009 – The Obama Administration’s broadband grants program attracted extraordinary attention on Monday, as at least 427 companies, individuals and organizations filed comments with the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Editor’s Note (4/19) – The complete BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments is now available at http://broadbandcensus.com/2009/04/the-broadbandcensuscom-list-of-ntia-comments
The BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments aims to include all substantive comments filed between March 10 and April 15 on the NTIA web site. For a growing number of comments, BroadbandCensus.com has provided a brief summary of the contents of the comment.
Editor’s Note (4/16) – This BroadbandCensus.com List of NTIA Comments Filed April 13 has been updated to include substantive comments on the broadband stimulus filed at the NTIA on April 13, the final day for submission – included those filed on the NTIA web site after 8:11 p.m.
BroadbandCensus.com aims to create a new page with substantive comments filed at any time during the course of the rule-making, including those filed before April 13.
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2009 – The Obama Administration’s broadband grants program attracted extraordinary attention on Monday, as at least 427 companies, individuals and organizations filed comments with the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
The mad rush to finish line was driven the agency’s April 13 deadline for comments about the way that NTIA, and the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service, should administer $7.2 billion in broadband-related grants and loans.
With the latest comment posted on the web site as of 8:11 p.m. on Monday, the 427 comments represents almost one-third of the approximately 1,400 questions and comments that have been received by the agency and posted online, beginning March 10, 2009. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/comments.cfm
As part of BroadbandCensus.com’s ongoing coverage of the broadband stimulus, reporters and correspondents for BroadbandCensus.com have systematically reviewed comments filed with the NTIA.
This collection represents a first cut of the organizations and individuals offering substantive comments about the implementation of the program. Individual form letters have been excluded, as have letters or comments that bear resemblance to many, previous comments.
Many of the filings by organizations and companies are listed under the name of the individual filing them, and are therefore hard to pick out of the NTIA’s web site.
Both the uniqueness of the concerns, and the significance of the entity filing, are the primary factors in BroadbandCensus.com’s selection of these comments from among the list of those that have filed. The filings are listed in alphabetical order.
Ed. Note (4/16) – Individuals with questions about this list should e-mail Cody Williams, williams@broadbandcensus.com.
The BroadbandCensus.com List of Comments
71 Concerned Economists, Using Procurement Auctions to Allocate Broadband Stimulus Grants, organized by Paul Milgrom, Stanford University; Gregory Rosston, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research; Andrzej Skrzypacz, Stanford; and Scott Wallsten, Technology Policy Institute Comment
Access Delray Comment
Access Delray, providing an update to their original filing. Comment
Advanced Emergency Communications Coalition | Comment
Alabama | Comment
Alaska Comment
Alcatel Lucent Comment
Allied Fiber | Comment
American Farm Bureau Comment
American Fiber Systems Comment
American Legislative Exchange Council Comment
American Library Association Comment
American Public Power Association Comment
American Tower | Comment
ApexCoVantage, which focuses on broadband mapping Comment
Apple, Inc. | Comment
Arizona, second comment Comment
Arizona Comment
Association of Public Safety Officials Comment
Association of Public TV Stations Comment
AT&T Comment
AT&T, second comment Comment
Atkins Telephone, a rural local exchange carrier in Iowa Comment
ATSI, a provider of voice-over-internet-protocol service Comment
Barling Bay, LLC and Caption Colorado | Comment
Benton Foundation/ University of Illinois | Comment
Big Think Strategies/Open Networks, with a correspondence address in Australia. Comment
Boston, Massachusetts Comment
Bresnan Communications, Cequel Comm, Suddenlink, MediaCom, MidContinent, a group of mid-sized cable operators | Comment
Broadband Development Corporation | Comment
Broadband Diversity Supporters | Comment
Broadpoint, a supplier to offshore oil and gas rigs Comment
California | Comment
Center for Technology and Democracy Comment
Cheetah Wireless, a small wireless service provider Comment
Chicago, Illinois Comment
Cisco Comment
Community Connect network | Comment
Connected Nation Comment
Conxx | Comment
Corpus Christi, Texas Comment
CostQuest, a providing of broadband mapping Comment
Coverage Co., a wireless roaming carrier Comment
Cox Communications Comment
Cricket Communications Comment
CTIA- The wireless Association | Comment
Delta Regional Authority | Comment
Discovery Communications | Comment
District of Columbia Government Comment
DSSA Associates, by Don Samuelson Comment
EarthLink Comment
East Central Vermont Community Fiber | Comment
EchoStar | Comment
Educause Comment
Embarq Comment
Enhanced Telecommunications Corp. Comment
Fairpoint, which provides telecommunications service in the Verizon network in Maine and New Hampshire Comment
Farmers Mutual Telephone Co. Comment
Fiber To The Home Council Comment
Fiber Tower, middle mile focus | Comment
Florida Comment
Free Press | Comment
Frontier Communications Comment
Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association Comment
Garrett County, Maryland Comment
General Communication, an Alaskan local exchange carrier Comment
Georgia Comment
Great Plains | Comment
Harris Corporation Comment
Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network | Comment
Home Town Cable, a small fiber-to-the-premises provider Comment
IEEE, a technical standards body Comment
ILSR Comment
Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance | Comment
Infinera |Comment
Intel Comment
Iowa Health System | Comment
Iowa Health Systems Comment
Iowa Utility Board Comment
Jaguar Communications | Comment
Kentucky Municipal Utilities Association Comment
Kodiak Kenai Cable Company, LLC | Comment
Lariat, a wireless internet service provider focusing on the “middle mile” issue | Comment
LEMKO Corp., next gen wireless | Comment
Loudon, Virginia | Comment
Maine Public Utility Commission Comment
Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, Vermont Department of Public Service, and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute | Comment
Media and Democracy Coalition, the point person for a coalition of non-profit organizations Comment
Michael Swack, of the University of New Hampshire Comment
Michigan Public Service Commission Comment
Michigan Comment
Minneapolis, Minnesota Comment
Montana Independent Telecommunications Systems | Comment
Montana Telecommunications Association Comment
Motorola Comment
MSS and ATC Coalition | Comment
NASUCA, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocats Comment
National Cable and Telecommunications Association Comment
National Emergency Number Association Comment
National Exchange Carrier Association, second filing Comment
National Exchange Carrier Association Comment
National Rural Electric Cooperative Comment
National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative | Comment
National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, DigitalBridge Communications Corp. | Comment
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association Comment
National Tribal Telecommunications Association Comment
Native Federation, an organization of Native Americans Comment
Nebraska Rural Independent Companies Comment
New York, New York Comment
Next G Networks, a wireless company Comment
North Dakota Comment
Northern Valley Communications Comment
NWT Enterprises, which urges wireless backed by fiber | Comment
Oakland County, Michigan Comment
Ohio Comment
One Economy Corp. (Updated) | Comment
One Economy Corp., a non-profit group Comment
OPASTCO, the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Cooperative (second filing) Comment
OPASTCO, the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Cooperatives Comment
Open Range Communications Comment
Palo Alto, California Comment
Pend Oreille County Public Utility District Number 1, Washington | Comment
Pennsylvania Comment
Pennsylvania Governor’s Office | Comment
Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation. This comment focuses on the 700 MegaHertz swatch of wireless frequencies, and its use by public officials. Comment
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. Comment
Qualcomm Comment
Ridgeview Tel | Comment
Rural Carriers Comment
Rural Cellular Association | Comment
Rural Cellular Association | Comment
Rural Fiber Alliance Comment
Rural Independent Competitive Alliance | Comment
Rural Telecom Group Comment
Rural Telephone Service, Co. Comment
San Francisco, California | Comment
SDF Consortium, a wireless network contractor | Comment
Seattle, Washington Comment
Shafter, Calif. | Comment
SkyTerra, which urges 20 percent to satellite services | Comment
Small Business Administration Comment
Smith Bagley Comment
Southern Linc Wireless Comment
Spot On Comment
Stayton Cooperative Telephone Company | Comment
Sunesys, LLC | Comment
Tele Pulse Technology Comment
TelePacific, which focuses on underserved areas. Comment
Texas Statewide Telephone Coop Comment
T-Mobile USA, Inc. | Comment
Trace Center, University of Wisconsin Comment
TracFone Comment
Triangle J Cable Broadband Consortium, a group of North Carolina government providers of cable broadband service Comment
Tyco Telecom Comment
U.S. Chamber of Commerce | Comment
Universal Service for America Coalition | Comment
University of Texas law students, a comprehensive filing. Comment
US Cellular Comment
US Telecom Association, the trade association of incumbent telecommunications carriers. Comment
Utopian Wireless | Comment
Van Horne Cooperative Telephone Company Comment
Verizon Communications Comment
ViaSat | Comment
Virginia Comment
Vonage, a provider of voice-over-internet-protocol service Comment
Washington Comment
Western Iowa Networks Comment
WGBH in Boston, a public television station, with a comment focusing on people with disabilities. Comment
WiMax Forum Comment
XO Communications Comment
Zero Divide, a comprehensive filing by a non-profit organization. Comment
Funding
State Broadband Offices Need to Increase Their Capacity, Improve Data, and Communicate Well
NTIA’s Evan Feinman spoke about what states need to keep in mind as they prepare for BEAD funds.
WASHINGTON, May 18, 2022 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration webinar event on Tuesday focused on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Notice of Funding Opportunity. The webinar highlighted three important items to keep in mind as states begin to receive money for broadband planning.
The first, according to Evan Feinman, deputy associate administrator for BEAD, was for states to consider your office’s capacity. Each state will receive a minimum of $100 million. Very few states have the human resources required to adequately run a program of this magnitude, he said.
The second is to build up research and data collections of broadband coverage at a state level. The Federal Communications Commission will soon release a new mapping system. It will be necessary, said Feinman, to “engage meaningfully” with these maps using state’s own research and data. Furthermore, states should have the necessary data to engage with internet service providers and the NTIA as they determine who is served and unserved.
Third, states should develop a clear-cut plan for outreach and communication support with stakeholders. Stakeholders include telecom providers, tribal governments, local governments, and community organizations.
The planning step is a great point for stakeholders to become involved in the process, said Feinman. “There is an expectation that lives throughout this program that folks are going to engage really thoroughly and in an outgoing way with their stakeholders.”
See other articles on the NTIA webinars issues in the wake of the Notices of Funding Opportunity on the Broadband.Money community:
FCC
Treasury Department Joins FCC, USDA and NTIA in Collaborating on Broadband Funding
Agency leaders sign pact to formalize information-sharing on broadband deployment projects.
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2022—Just in advance of the deadline for the release of the funding requirements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act, the four principal federal agencies responsible for broadband funding released an interagency agreement to share information about and collaborate regarding the collection and reporting of certain data and metrics relating to broadband deployment.
The agencies are the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Commerce Department, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The Memorandum of Understanding is the latest development in federal efforts to coordinate high-speed internet spending, and the Treasury Department is the new addition to agreement.
The other three agencies signed a prior memorandum in June 2021 to coordinate the distribution of federal high-speed internet funds. That June 2021 Memorandum of Understanding remains in effect.
The respective Cabinet and Agency leaders announced that their agencies will consult with one another and share information on data collected from programs administered by the FCC, the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, programs administered or coordinated by NTIA, and Treasury’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
“No matter who you are or where you live in this country, you need access to high-speed internet to have a fair shot at 21st century success. The FCC, NTIA, USDA and Treasury are working together like never before to meet this shared goal,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Our new interagency agreement will allow us to collaborate more efficiently and deepen our current data sharing relationships[and] get everyone, everywhere connected to the high-speed internet they need.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “When we invest in rural infrastructure, we invest in the livelihoods and health of people in rural America. High-speed internet is the new electricity. It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, to have access to health care and to stay connected.”
“USDA remains committed to being a strong partner with rural communities and our state, Tribal and federal partners in building ‘future-proof’ broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas so that we finally reach 100 percent high-speed broadband coverage across the country.”
“Our whole-of-government effort to expand broadband adoption must be coordinated and efficient if we are going to achieve our mission,” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and head of the NTIA, the agency responsible for administering the vast bulk of the broadband funding.
“This MOU will allow us to build the tools we need for even better data-sharing and transparency in the future,” he said.
“Treasury is proud to work with our federal agency partners to achieve President Biden’s goal of closing the nation’s digital divide,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen. “Access to affordable, high-speed internet is critical to the continued strength of our economy and a necessity for every American household, school, and business.”
As part of the signed agreement, each federal agency partner will share information about projects that have received or will receive funding from the previously mentioned federal funding sources. More information on what the interagency Memorandum of Understanding entails can be found on the FCC’s website. The agreement is effective at the date of its signing, May 11, 2022.
FCC
FCC and NTIA Chiefs Name Jessica Quinley, Douglas Brake and Timothy May to Advisory Committees
NTIA representatives to join FCC technology and security committees, FCC rep on spectrum committee
WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022—Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alan Davidson on Friday named staff representatives to participate on each other’s advisory committees. The effort is a component of the Spectrum Coordination Initiative of the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Commerce Department.
As part of the initiative, the agencies are working with each other and the private sector.
“To succeed as spectrum partners, the FCC and NTIA must hear from and listen to each other in both formal and informal ways,” said Rosenworcel.
“A common understanding of spectrum engineering and market conditions is essential for the success of our efforts at the FCC and NTIA to manage the country’s spectrum resources,” said Davidson.
Rosenworcel named Jessica Quinley of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to participate as an observer in NTIA’s Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. Quinley currently serves as an Acting Legal Advisor in the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She was an attorney at NTIA for more than four years.
Davidson named Douglas Brake, a Spectrum Policy Specialist, and Timothy May, a Senior Advisor, to participate in the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council and its Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council, respectively.
Brake, a Spectrum Policy Specialist with NTIA, previously directed the broadband and spectrum policy work at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. May currently serves as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary where he has worked for four years. Before joining NTIA, he was a Policy Analyst in the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
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