The National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA): Issues
for the 113th Congress
Linda K. Moore
Specialist in Telecommunications Policy
January 3, 2013
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R42886
CRS Report for Congress
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress

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The NTIA: Issues for the 113th Congress

Summary

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a bureau of the
Department of Commerce, is the executive branch’s principal advisory office on domestic and
international telecommunications and information policies. Its mandate is to provide greater
access for all Americans to telecommunications services, support U.S. efforts to open foreign
markets, advise on international telecommunications negotiations, and fund research for new
technologies and their applications. NTIA also manages the distribution of funds for several key
grant programs. Its role in managing radio frequency spectrum allocated for federal use includes
monitoring and resolving questions regarding usage, causes of interference, and other questions.
It shares responsibilities with the Federal Communications Commission to identify federal
spectrum that can be transferred to commercial use through the auction of spectrum licenses.
With the passage of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96), in
February 2012, Congress has given the NTIA new responsibilities in spectrum management and
the support of public safety initiatives. The 113th Congress may wish to review the NTIA’s
performance in meeting its obligations under the act. Many of the NTIA’s responsibilities are
shared with other agencies. Policy makers may wish to consider if some of these shared
obligations might be effectively and efficiently transferred to its partners, allowing the NTIA to
focus on communications policies that are considered by many to be key to future economic
growth and development.

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The NTIA: Issues for the 113th Congress

Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Funding ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Programs .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Terminated and Expiring Grant Programs ................................................................................. 4
Spectrum Act ................................................................................................................................... 5
Public Safety .............................................................................................................................. 5
Spectrum Reallocation ............................................................................................................... 6
Spectrum Policy ............................................................................................................................... 6
Shared Spectrum ........................................................................................................................ 8
Internet Policy .................................................................................................................................. 9
Research ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Issues for the 113th Congress ......................................................................................................... 10

Tables
Table 1. NTIA: Fiscal Year Appropriations 2007-2012 ................................................................... 2

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 11

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Introduction
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is one of 12 bureaus
in the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The NTIA frequently works with other executive
branch agencies to develop and present the Administration’s position on key policy matters. It
represents the executive branch in both domestic and international telecommunications and
information policy activities. Policy areas in which NTIA acts as the representative of the
Administration include international negotiations regarding global agreements on the Internet and
spectrum management, and domestic use of spectrum resources by federal agencies.1 In recent
years, one of the responsibilities of NTIA has been to oversee the transfer of some radio
frequencies from the federal domain to the commercial domain. Many of these frequencies have
subsequently been auctioned to the commercial sector and the proceeds paid into the U.S.
Treasury. As part of President Obama’s Wireless Initiative, the NTIA is charged with identifying
up to 500 MHz of electromagnetic spectrum that might be transferred from the federal sector to
commercial wireless use.2
The NTIA administers some grants programs created by Congress, including—at present—the
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)3 and the Public Safety Interoperable
Communications (PSIC) grant program.4 These programs are in the final stages of completion. As
required by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96), the NTIA is
in the process of establishing requirements for a $135 million grant program to help states plan
for participation in a new, nationwide public safety broadband network. To deploy the new
network, the act established the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, within the NTIA
and assigned the agency various responsibilities to support FirstNet.5 FirstNet will be self-funded,
initially receiving up to $2 billion from proceeds of sales of spectrum licenses, with another $5
billion in auction proceeds expected.
Funding
Enacted legislation for FY2012 has provided $45.6 million to the NTIA for salaries and expenses,
an increase over the previous year of 9.6% but 18.4% less than requested by the Administration.
The Administration had requested $55.8 million for Salaries and Expenses for FY2012, an
increase of $14.3 million over FY2011-enacted appropriations of $41.6 million. The
Administration request for appropriations represented a significant increase over the $21.8
million requested for Salaries and Expenses for FY2010 and the $19.999 million appropriated for

1 Spectrum is segmented into bands of radio frequencies and typically measured in cycles per second, or hertz. Standard
abbreviations for measuring frequencies include kHz—kilohertz or thousands of hertz; MHz—megahertz, or millions
of hertz; and GHz—gigahertz, or billions of hertz.
2 The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, “President Obama Details Plan to Win the Future Through Expanded
Wireless Access,” Fact Sheet, February 10, 2011, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/10/president-
obama-details-plan-win-future-through-expanded-wireless-access.
3 For a discussion of BTOP grants, see CRS Report R41775, Background and Issues for Congressional Oversight of
ARRA Broadband Awards, by Lennard G. Kruger.
4 Federal grants for emergency communications is discussed in CRS Report R41842, Funding Emergency
Communications: Technology and Policy Considerations, by Linda K. Moore.
5 Measures in the act that apply to public safety are covered in CRS Report R42543, The First Responder Network and
Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress, by Linda K. Moore.
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that category in FY2010. According to the NTIA, the increase is attributable to the costs of
administration and oversight of a $4.4 billion program for broadband technologies and
deployment mapping, as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(ARRA, P.L. 111-5). Total requests for all oversight programs administered by the NTIA totaled
$32.3 million for FY2012. In addition, the Administration requested new funding for the NTIA of
$1.7 million to support efforts to foster new wireless broadband technologies and of $1.0 million
for its Internet Innovation initiative to address Internet-based privacy principles.
The FY2013 Continuing Resolution (P.L. 112-175) for appropriations, in effect until March 27,
2013, maintains the NTIA budget at FY2012 levels. For FY2013, the Administration proposes
$46.9 million for NTIA salaries and expenses. This is an increase of 3.0% over the enacted
FY2012 budget amount of $45.6 million. For FY2013, the Senate Committee on Appropriations
reported the amount requested by the Administration. The House-passed appropriation is $45.6
million for FY2013, the amount enacted for FY2012. Based on staffing distribution, the NTIA’s
FY2013 budget estimate, by activity, proposes: for Domestic and International Policies, a funding
increase of $0.9 million and five additional FTEs; for Management, increases in funding of $0.6
million to cover an additional five FTEs; for Broadband Programs, an increase of nearly $1
million for salaries and expenses and a decrease of four FTEs; for Telecommunications Sciences
Research, a decrease in expenditures of $1.9 million and a reduction of personnel of seven FTEs.
The Administration’s request for FTE personnel for programs covered by the agency’s budget
authority is estimated at 898 for FY2013.
Table 1. NTIA: Fiscal Year Appropriations 2007-2012
(in millions of dollars)
Funding FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012
NTIA
Total $39.8 $36.3 $39.2 $40.0 $41.6 $45.6
Administration,






salaries and
expenses
$19.8
$17.5
$19.2
$20.0
$41.6
$45.6
PTFPCa $20.0
$18.8
$20.0
$20.0 0 0
Source: Annual Reports, Department of Commerce and Congressional Appropriations, as Enacted.
Appropriations for ongoing grant programs are not included.
a. The grant program for the Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning and Construction (PTFPC)
program was terminated by Congress in FY2011.
The NTIA also receives funding from sources such as fees charged to federal agencies for
spectrum management services. In FY2011, NTIA funding sources other than appropriated
amounts totaled $46.5 million. The amount for FY2012 is $58.0 million. The estimated amount
for FY2013 is $37.3 million. Spectrum management fees from federal agencies is estimated at
$28.7 million for FY2013.6

6 U.S. Department of Congress, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, FY2013 Budget as
Presented to Congress, February 2012.
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Programs
The NTIA fulfills many responsibilities for different constituencies. As the agency responsible for
managing spectrum used by federal agencies, the NTIA often works in consultation with the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on matters concerning spectrum access, technology,
and policy. The FCC regulates private sector, state, local, and tribal spectrum use. Because many
spectrum issues are international in scope and negotiated through treaty-making, the NTIA and
the FCC collaborate with the Department of State in representing American interests. NTIA also
participates in interagency efforts to develop Internet policy.7 The NTIA and the National Institute
of Standards (NIST) have adjoining facilities on the Department of Commerce campus in
Boulder, CO, where they collaborate on research projects with each other and with other federal
agencies, such as the FCC.
The NTIA worked with the Rural Utilities Service in coordinating loans and grants made through
BTOP and with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in overseeing grants made through
the PSIC grants program. NTIA collaborates with NIST, DHS, and the FCC in providing
expertise and guidance to public safety agencies using PSIC or BTOP funds to build new wireless
networks for broadband communications.
As described by the NTIA,8 its policies and programs are administered through
• The Office of Spectrum Management (OSM), which formulates and establishes
plans and policies that ensure the effective, efficient, and equitable use of the
spectrum both nationally and internationally. Through the development of long
range spectrum plans, the OSM works to address future federal government
spectrum requirements, including public safety operations and the coordination
and registration of federal government satellite networks. The OSM also handles
the frequency assignment needs of the federal agencies and provides spectrum
certification for new federal agency radio communication systems.
• The Office of Policy Analysis and Development (OPAD), which is the domestic
policy division of NTIA. OPAD supports NTIA’s role as principal adviser to the
Executive Branch and the Secretary of Commerce on telecommunications and
information policies by conducting research and analysis and preparing policy
recommendations.
• The Office of International Affairs (OIA), which develops and implements
policies to enhance U.S. companies’ ability to compete globally in the
information technology and communications (ICT) sectors. In consultation with
other U.S. agencies and the U.S. private sector, OIA participates in international
and regional fora to promote policies that open ICT markets and encourage
competition.
• The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which is the research and
engineering laboratory of NTIA. ITS provides technical support to NTIA in
advancing telecommunications and information infrastructure development,

7 For background information on NTIA’s role in U.S. Internet policy, see CRS Report 97-868, Internet Domain Names:
Background and Policy Issues, by Lennard G. Kruger.
8 See http://www.ntia.doc.gov/about.
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enhancing domestic competition, improving U.S. telecommunications trade
opportunities, and promoting more efficient and effective use of the radio
spectrum.
• The Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications (OTIA), which
administers grant programs that further the deployment and use of technology in
America, and the advancement of other national priorities. In the past, the OTIA
has awarded grants from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program,
which was terminated by Congress in FY2011. The program supported new
construction for public broadcasting stations and other organizations.
• The Office of Public Safety Communications, which was created by the NTIA at
the end of 2012, to administer some provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief
and Job Creation Act of 2012, Title VI, also known as the Spectrum Act.
In addition to six line offices, the NTIA also supports four staff offices.
Terminated and Expiring Grant Programs
In FY2011, Congress terminated grant funding for the Public Telecommunications Facilities
Program (PTFP). In FY2010, the program received $20 million in funding to support broadcast
and non-broadcast projects. Approximately half of the grant monies went to public radio and
television stations to replace equipment. Another 25% of grant funds were awarded to bring radio
and television services to unserved or underserved communities. Other awards included grants to
16 public television and radio stations to cover costs of converting from analog to digital
broadcasting. These grants helped the Public Broadcasting Service to maintain and improve its
critical role in the current Emergency Alert system (EAS) and new initiatives for Wireless
Emergency Alerts (also known as commercial mobile alerts).9 For example the satellite
communications network that supports EAS is operated by the National Public Radio, public
television stations provide back-up for Wireless Emergency Alerts to mobile devices, and public
television and radio stations provide emergency alerts and information to otherwise unserved
communities. In FY2010, the PTFP represented half of the NTIA’s budget appropriations. In
FY2011, the total enacted budget appropriations amount for the NTIA increased by 4% to $41.6
million; the resources for the PTFP were transferred to administrative expenses and salaries.
Much of these transferred funds were applied to the management of grant programs required by
the ARRA.10
ARRA grant programs administered by the NTIA include the State Broadband Initiative and the
Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP). In accordance with requirements in the
act, all grants were awarded by the end of FY2010. The NTIA’s primary role during 2013 is
monitoring and oversight of funded programs as they near completion.
Similarly, PSIC grant awards were largely completed by the end of FY2012 and are in the process
of being wound down.

9 Background information on FEMA and FCC websites, such as http://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-system-eas.
10 See CRS Report R41775, Background and Issues for Congressional Oversight of ARRA Broadband Awards, by
Lennard G. Kruger.
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Spectrum Act
The most recent legislative action to provide more spectrum for commercial services were
provisions included in Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L.
112-96).11 Title VI is generally referred to as the Spectrum Act or the Public Safety and Spectrum
Act. The act has updated existing and specified new procedures for spectrum to be reallocated
from federal government to commercial use. Under the act, the NTIA is required to work with the
FCC to identify specific bands for auction.
The NTIA will also be responsible for collecting auction proceeds and making distributions from
a Public Safety Trust Fund that remains in effect through FY2022. Most of the proceeds from
auctions of licenses in designated spectrum as specified in the act are to be deposited directly into
the Public Safety Trust Fund, with these proceeds appropriated for purposes defined in the act.
Public Safety
The Spectrum Act has given the NTIA responsibilities to create and support FirstNet in planning,
building and managing a new, nationwide, broadband network for public safety
communications.12 The act requires the NTIA, in consultation with FirstNet, to establish grant
program requirements for a State and Local Implementation Fund. The NTIA is also to facilitate
payments to states that participate in the deployment of the network. Separately, the NTIA will
administer grants and spectrum access for states that do not participate directly in the national
network and that receive permission from the FCC to build the state’s part of the FirstNet
network. In compliance with the act’s deadline for setting up the Fund, the NTIA has published
initial programmatic requirements under which it will award grants.13
The NTIA has created an Office of Public Safety Communications to oversee the State and Local
Implementation Fund grant process. The new office will also help FirstNet with procurement
issues. The Office will manage service-level agreements for the agency to supply administrative,
technical, staffing, and other resources, as requested, to FirstNet.
The act also re-establishes the federal 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office (ICO) to
advance planning for next-generation systems (NG 9-1-1) and to administer a grant program.14
ICO is to be jointly administered by the NTIA and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. ICO is to provide matching grants for improvements in the implementation of
911 emergency services, and other purposes from a grant program authorized at $115 million.
Based on the act’s prioritized plan for funding programs with spectrum license auction revenue,
the funds for the grant program will be made available only after $27.635 billion of available
auction revenue has been applied to other purposes. ICO, in consultation with NHTSA and DHS,

11 Provisions in Title VI of the act are discussed in CRS Report R40674, Spectrum Policy in the Age of Broadband:
Issues for Congress, by Linda K. Moore.
12 Actions taken by the NTIA in establishing and assisting FirstNet are documented at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/
category/public-safety.
13 Federal Register, Vol. 77, No. 162, August 21, 2012, Notice, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/2012/
development-programmatic-requirements-state-and-local-implementation-gr.
14 Previous legislation and for NG9-1-1 is discussed in CRS Report R41208, Emergency Communications: Broadband
and the Future of 911, by Linda K. Moore.
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is to report on costs for requirements and specifications of NG 9-1-1 services, including an
analysis of costs, and assessments and analyses of technical uses.
The act also requires FirstNet to promote integration of the nationwide public safety broadband
network with Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs are 9-1-1 call centers). Since the NTIA has
responsibilities for both ICO and FirstNet, the agency may be in a position to improve
interoperability between PSAPs and First Responders.
Spectrum Reallocation
The act has addressed how spectrum resources might be repurposed from federal to commercial
use through auction or sharing, and how the cost of such reassignment would be defined and
compensated, among other provisions.15 Although spectrum sharing to facilitate the transition
from federal to commercial use is supported in the act’s provisions, the NTIA has been required
to give priority to reallocation options that assign spectrum for exclusive, non-federal uses
through competitive bidding.16
The act has required the establishment of a Technical Panel within the NTIA to review transition
plans that each federal agency must prepare in accordance with provisions in the act.17 The
Technical Panel is required to have three members qualified as a radio engineer or technical
expert. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Communications and Information, and the Chairman of the FCC have been
required to appoint one member each.18 A discussion and interpretation of provisions of the act as
regards the technical panel and related procedural requirements such as dispute resolution have
been published by the NTIA as part of the rulemaking process.19
Spectrum Policy
The Administration and Congress have taken steps to increase the amount of radio frequency
spectrum available for mobile services such as access to the Internet. The increasingly popular
smart phones and tablets require greater spectrum capacity (broadband) than the services of
earlier generations of cell phones. Proposals from policy makers to use federal spectrum to
provide commercial mobile broadband services include:
• Clearing federal users from designated frequencies for transfer to the commercial
sector through a competitive bidding system.
• Sharing federal frequencies with specific commercial users.
• Improving the efficiency of federal spectrum use and management.20

15 P.L. 112-96, Section 6701 (a) (1) (D) “(3).
16 P.L. 112-96, Section 6701 (a) (3) “(j).
17 P.L. 112-96, Section 6701 (a) (3) “(h).
18 P.L. 112-96, Section 6701 (a) (3) “(h) “(3) “(B).
19 NTIA, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, July 17, 2012, and replies, docket no. 110627357-2209-03 at
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/2012/technical-panel-and-dispute-resolution-board-nprm.
20 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report: Spectrum Management: NTIA Planning and
(continued...)
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• Using emerging technologies for network management to allow multiple users to
share spectrum as needed.
The NTIA supports the Administration’s policy goal of increasing spectrum capacity for mobile
broadband by 500 MHz.21 To this purpose, NTIA, with input from the Policy and Plans Steering
Group (PPSG),22 has produced a 10-year plan and timetable that identifies bands of spectrum that
might be available for commercial wireless broadband service. As part of its planning efforts, the
NTIA prepared a “Fast Track Evaluation” of spectrum that might be made available in the near
future. 23 Specific recommendations were to make available 15 MHz of spectrum from
frequencies between 1695 MHz and 1710 MHz, and100 MHz of spectrum within bands from
3550 MHz to 3650 MHz. The fast track evaluation also recommended studying two 20 MHz
bands to be identified within 4200-4400 MHz for possible repurposing, and placement for
consideration of this proposal on the agenda of the World Radio Conference (WRC-2015)
scheduled for 2015-2016. The World Radio Conference, held approximately every four years, is
the primary forum for negotiating international treaties on spectrum use.
The NTIA also led an evaluation process regarding commercial use of 95 MHz of spectrum in the
1755-1850 MHz band, currently used by federal agencies.24 These frequencies are valued for
commercial use in part because they are among those designated for international harmonization
of advanced wireless technology. Harmonization enables important economies of scale in the
production of wireless mobile equipment by providing global markets for standardized products.
Federal users are completing the transfer of spectrum to commercial license-holders in the 1710-
1755 MHz band, also designated for harmonization.25
Many decisions regarding the use of federal spectrum are also made through the
Interdepartmental Radio Access Committee, IRAC.26 IRAC membership comprises
representatives of all branches of the U.S. military and a number of federal department agencies
affected by spectrum management decisions.27 The NTIA is advised regarding broader spectrum
policy issues by the Commerce Spectrum Advisory Committee (CSMAC), a Federal Advisory

(...continued)
Processes Need Strengthening to Promote the Efficient Us Use of Spectrum by Federal Agencies, April 2011, GAO-11-
352.
21 Broadband refers here to the capacity of the radio frequency channel. A broadband channel can quickly transmit live
video, complex graphics, and other data-rich information as well as voice and text messages, whereas a narrowband
channel might be limited to handling voice, text, and some graphics.
22 Created in response to Department of Commerce recommendations to improve spectrum efficiency through better
management, see http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/reports/specpolini/factsheetspecpolini_06242004.htm.
23 NTIA, An Assessment of Near-Term Viability of Accommodating Wireless Broadband Systems in the 1675-1710
MHZ, 1755-1780 MHz, 3500-3650 MHz, and 4200-4220 MHz, 4380-4400 MHZ Bands (President’s Spectrum Plan
Report), November 15, 2010, at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/report/2010/assessment-near-term-viability-accommodating-
wireless-broadband-systems-1675-1710-mhz-17.
24 U.S. Department of Commerce, An Assessment of the Viability of Accommodating Wireless Broadband in the 1755-
1850 MHz Band, March 2012, at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/
ntia_1755_1850_mhz_report_march2012.pdf.
25 Following procedures required by the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-494, Title II), the
FCC auctioned licenses for these frequencies in 2006. The auction attracted nearly $13.9 billion in completed bids. The
cost to move federal agencies to new spectrum locations was set at almost $936 million. Additional information is in
CRS Report RS21508, Spectrum Management and Special Funds, by Linda K. Moore.
26 See http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/irac.
27 Members are listed at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/page/irac-functions-and-responsibilities.
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Committee. The committee was created in 2004 and is comprised of experts from outside the
federal government.28 The Office of Management and Budget influences agency spectrum
management through budget planning and recommendations.
The NTIA’s administration of federal spectrum resources was criticized in a 2011 report from the
Government Accountability Office (GAO), on the agency’s planning and processes.29 The GAO’s
findings noted that the NTIA had scaled back forward-looking strategic planning activities and
that its primary spectrum management operations do not focus on government-wide needs.
Shared Spectrum
Working through the PPSG, the NTIA studied federal spectrum use by more than 20 agencies
with over 3,100 separate frequency assignments in the 1755-1850 MHz band.30 After evaluating
the multiple steps involved in transferring current uses and users to other frequency locations, the
NTIA concluded that it would cost $18 billion to clear federal users from all 95 MHz of the band.
Based on this assessment, the report included recommendations for seeking ways for federal and
commercial users to share many of the frequencies, although some frequencies were identified to
be cleared for auction to the private sector. The assumptions for the estimates of the cost were
challenged in a congressional hearing, leading to a request to the GAO to examine the process.31
In particular, the NTIA was criticized by some members of the committee for not separately
evaluating the 1755-1780 MHz band, which might be auctioned separately with another spectrum
band already available for commercial use. At the hearing, the GAO provided testimony
regarding its preliminary findings on spectrum sharing32 and followed up with a report.33 Both the
hearing and the report indicated that spectrum sharing technology and policies were largely
undeveloped. Some of the options to encourage sharing spectrum, as identified by the GAO,
include considering spectrum usage fees to provide economic incentive for more efficient use and
sharing; identifying more spectrum that could be made available for unlicensed use; encouraging
research and development of technologies that can better enable sharing; and improving and
expediting regulatory processes related to sharing. Given the challenges for implementing
spectrum sharing policies, the GAO found that further study by the NTIA and the FCC was
needed.
The President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST) has endorsed
increasing spectrum capacity through new technology that increases efficiency and allows for
shared use of spectrum resources. In a report, Realizing the Full Potential of Government Held
Spectrum to Spur Economic Growth, the council has proposed that up to 1000 MHz of additional

28 See http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/csmac.
29 GAO, Spectrum Management: NTIA Planning and Processes Need Strengthening to Promote the Efficient Use of
Spectrum by Federal Agencies, April 2011, GAO-11-352 at http://gao.gov/products/GAO-11-352.
30 U.S. Department of Commerce, An Assessment of the Viability of Accommodating Wireless Broadband in the 1755-
1850 MHz Band, March 2012, at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/report/2012/assessment-viability-accommodating-wireless-
broadband-1755-1850-mhz-band.
31 Hearing, House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology, “Creating Opportunities Through Improved Government Spectrum Efficiency,” September 13, 2012.
32 GAO, Spectrum Management: Federal Government’s Use of Spectrum and Preliminary Information on Spectrum
Sharing, September 13, 2012, GAO-12-1018T at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-1018T .
33 GAO, Spectrum Management: Incentives, Opportunities, and Testing Needed to Enhance Spectrum Sharing,
November 14, 2012, GAO-13-7 at http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-7.
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spectrum capacity could be provided through shared access between the federal government and
commercial providers.34 The report identified existing technologies for sharing that could be used
as platforms. The report’s recommendations included the development of new spectrum policies
based on spectrum-sharing. The report stated that “the norm for spectrum use should be sharing,”
and that the White House should take actions to advance toward this goal. If the Administration’s
policy is to pursue the recommendations of the PCAST report, the further studies of spectrum-
sharing options suggested by the GAO might inform such an initiative.
Internet Policy
Working with other stakeholders NTIA leads and participates in interagency efforts to develop
Internet policy. In addition, NTIA works with other governments and international organizations
to discuss and reach consensus on relevant Internet policy issues.
Along with the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the Secretary of Commerce, and
department bureaus NIST and the International Trade Administration (ITA), NTIA plays a role in
the Internet Policy Task Force, created in 2010 by the Secretary of Commerce.35 One of NTIA’s
functions on the Task Force is to assist in the establishment of a code of conduct on mobile
application transparency.
NTIA is the lead Executive Branch agency on issues relating to the Domain Name System (DNS)
and supports a multi-stakeholder approach to the coordination of the DNS to ensure the long-term
viability of the Internet as a force for innovation and economic growth.36

Research
The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, located in Boulder, CO, is the research and
engineering arm of NTIA. ITS provides core telecommunications research and engineering
services to promote: enhanced domestic competition and new technology deployment; advanced
telecommunications and information services; foreign trade opportunities for American
telecommunication firms; and more efficient use of spectrum. Current areas of focus include:
• Research, development, testing, and evaluation to foster nationwide public safety
communications interoperability.
• Test and Demonstration Networks to facilitate accelerated development of
standards for emerging communications devices.

34 Recommendations of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, Realizing the Full Potential of
Government-Held Spectrum to Spur Economic Growth, released July 20, 2012, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/
default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_spectrum_report_final_july_20_2012.pdf.
35 See The Department of Commerce, Internet Policy Task Force, Commercial Data Privacy and Innovation in the
Internet Economy: A Dynamic Policy Framework, http://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2010/
december/iptf-privacy-green-paper.pdf.
36 See CRS Report R42351, Internet Governance and the Domain Name System: Issues for Congress, by Lennard G.
Kruger.
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• Analysis and resolution of interference issues.
• Development and testing of secure federal electronic record repositories.
There are a number of works in progress that could benefit public safety communications. One
example is the development and acceptance of international standards for public safety
communications. Like the commercial sector, public safety could benefit from global economies
of scale if there are international standards. ITS and NIST are providing important leadership in
developing global standards for public safety. For FY2013, however, NTIA proposes cutting
funding and staff for ITS.
Issues for the 113th Congress
According to the NTIA,37 anticipated activities during 2013 focus on:
• Completing broadband grant projects and leveraging these investments through
disseminating best practices and “maximizing the capacity-building power of the
state broadband offices funded by the State Broadband Initiative.”
• Conclusion of multi-stakeholder work on a code of conduct for mobile
applications privacy, an effort undertaken by the Internet Policy Task Force.
• New activities for spectrum sharing and the release of 500 MHz of spectrum
from federal to commercial use, including completing CSMAC working group
activities.
• Preparation of requirements for the State and Local Implementation Grant
Program as part of its support of FirstNet and “significant consultation work with
these jurisdictions and other key stakeholders.”
Many of the NTIA’s functions are performed in conjunction with other agencies. The NTIA’s role
as liaison may lead to overlapping responsibilities, leading to duplication of effort across
departments and agencies. At the same time, rapid advances in communications technology have
changed the mission of the NTIA in areas such as spectrum policy. As it reviews communications
and spectrum policy, the 113th Congress may also choose to consider if the current structure of the
NTIA might be better aligned to its new responsibilities.
For purposes of oversight, Congress may—for example—choose to examine the efficacy of the
NTIA’s spectrum management activities, and to evaluate the agency’s compliance with the
Spectrum Act (P.L. 112-96, Title VI). Oversight might cover requirements of the act regarding the
transfer of spectrum from federal to commercial use and the act’s provisions for public safety.


37 NTIA Blog, “NTIA Recap of 2012 and Look Ahead to 2013,” December 27, 2012, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/
2012/ntia-recap-2012-and-look-ahead-2013.
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The NTIA: Issues for the 113th Congress

Author Contact Information
Linda K. Moore
Specialist in Telecommunications Policy
lmoore@crs.loc.gov, 7-5853

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