National Telecommunications and Information Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a proposed information collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

Pursuant to the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law 110-329 (2008), the U.S. Department of Commerce announces the solicitation of applications for a grant for the Pan-Pacific Education and Communications Experiments by Satellite (PEACESAT) Program. Projects funded pursuant to this Notice are intended to support the PEACESAT Program's acquisition of satellite communications to service Pacific Basin communities and to manage the operations of this network. Applications for the PEACESAT Program grant will compete for funds from the Public Broadcasting, Facilities, Planning and Construction Funds account.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking nominations of individuals to represent the business community, public interest groups, and other appropriate groups interested in serving on the NTIA Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG) for a single fifteen (15) month term to commence in January 2009. At the conclusion of the working group's term, the OSTWG will provide a report to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator and to Congress on ways to promote and to preserve a safe environment for children using the Internet.

Pursuant to the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Public Law No. 110-329 (2008), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, announces the solicitation of applications for planning and construction grants for public telecommunications facilities under the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP). The PTFP assists, through matching grants, in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities in order to: (1) Extend delivery of services to as many citizens as possible by the most cost-effective means, including use of broadcast and non-broadcast technologies; (2) increase public telecommunications services and facilities available to, operated by, and controlled by minorities and women; and (3) strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public.

Section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act (Act) requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to implement and administer a program through which each eligible low- power television broadcast station, Class A television station, television translator station, or television booster station may receive reimbursement for equipment to upgrade from analog to digital in eligible rural communities. NTIA will hold public meetings regarding the implementation of this Low-power Television Upgrade Program (Upgrade Program) \1\ in Washington, DC and Las Vegas, Nevada.

In this document, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) adopts certain changes affecting section 301.3 of its Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program regulations. See 47 CFR Sec. 301.3. Specifically, NTIA waives the ``eligible household'' and application requirements in subsection 301.3(a) and subsection 301.3(e), respectively, for individuals residing in nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and assisted living facilities, subject to alternative application requirements specified herein. NTIA also amends paragraph 301.3(a)(2) to permit an otherwise eligible household that utilizes a post office box for mail receipt to apply for and receive coupons.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) for new two year terms to commence in December 2008. This Notice reopens the application period in order to provide the public with an additional opportunity to submit applications. The evaluation criteria for selecting members contained in the August 1, 2008 notice shall continue to apply.

On October 29, 2007, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the establishment of the Low-Power Television and Translator Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program (Conversion Program) and announcing $8 million in funds available for grants. Pursuant to the requirements of the DTV Transition Assistance Act, Public Law No. 110-295, NTIA has determined that the full funding amount is not necessary for the Conversion Program and herein announces the funds available for these grants to be $3.5 million. NTIA also announces certain changes in the application submission deadlines.

This notice announces that manufacturers that intend to submit, for the first time, digital-to-analog converter boxes to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for certification as part of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program (Coupon Program) must submit their Notice of Intent (NOI) before September 1, 2008. Manufacturers who have to date received a certification notice for one or more converters (repeat manufacturers) have until September 30, 2008 to submit their NOI for any additional digital-to-analog converter boxes for certification under the Coupon Program. The intent of this notice is to allow NTIA to better plan and anticipate resource needs to process a finite group of converters.

In this document, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) proposes certain changes affecting section 301.3 of its Digital-To-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program rules set forth at 47 CFR 301.3. Specifically, NTIA proposes to waive the ``eligible household'' and application requirements in section 301.3(a), and section 301.3(e), for individuals residing in nursing homes or other senior care facilities, subject to the alternative application requirements specified herein. NTIA also proposes to amend section 301.3(a)(2) to permit an otherwise eligible household that utilizes a post office box for mail receipt to apply for and receive coupons subject to providing satisfactory proof of physical residence.

Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, 121 Stat. 1844 (2007), the U.S. Department of Commerce announces the solicitation of applications for a grant for the Pan- Pacific Education and Communications Experiments by Satellite (PEACESAT) Program. Projects funded pursuant to this Notice are intended to support the PEACESAT Program's acquisition of satellite communications to service Pacific Basin communities and to manage the operations of this network. Applications for the PEACESAT Program grant will compete for funds from the Public Broadcasting, Facilities, Planning and Construction Funds account.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S.Department of Commerce (Department), will hold a public meeting on February 28, 2008, to discuss the mid-term review of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between the Department and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

NTIA will hold a public meeting on January 24, 2008, in connection with its TV Converter Box Coupon Program described in the Final Rule that was released on March 12, 2007.\1\

This notice announces a public meeting of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum management matters.