National Telecommunications and Information Administration 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Further Continuing Appropriations, 2010, Division B of Pub. L. No. 111-88, 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) for fiscal year (FY) 2010.

RUS and NTIA announce the release of a joint Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on certain issues relating to the implementation of the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). This is the second joint RFI that the agencies have issued since the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), which established these broadband initiatives. The input the agencies expect to receive from this process is intended to inform the second round of funding. In particular, the agencies seek to gather information that will help them improve the broadband programs by enhancing the applicant experience and making targeted revisions to the first Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA), if necessary.

This notice announces a public meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG).

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

This notice announces a public meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG).

RUS and NTIA announce additional measures to ensure that any pending electronic applications experiencing difficulties uploading attachments into the Easygrants[reg] System for the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) can be submitted by the extended application deadline of August 20, 2009. The Easygrants[reg] System will not accept applications after 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 20, 2009. In order to ensure that all pending electronic applications experiencing difficulties uploading attachments can be completed, the core application must be electronically submitted using the Easygrants[reg] System by 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2009. The extension described herein pertains only to the attachments listed in the ``Uploads Checklist'' of the ``Uploads'' page of the Easygrants[reg] System, including documents submitted as Supplemental Information. The core application is defined as all fields and questions in the application, not including the attachments listed in the ``Uploads Checklist'' of the ``Uploads'' page. Any attachments that the applicant is unable to upload to the Easygrants[reg] System must be submitted by August 24, 2009, using one of the following methods of delivery: hand-delivery, overnight express, or regular mail.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, publishes this Notice to provide clarification of the information requirements for State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program awardees stated in the Notice of Funds Availability and Solicitation of Applications (Notice) published on July 8, 2009.

RUS and NTIA announce general policy and application procedures for broadband initiatives established pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). RUS is establishing the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) which may extend loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. NTIA is establishing the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) which makes available grants for deploying broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas in the United States, enhancing broadband capacity at public computer centers, and promoting sustainable broadband adoption projects. In facilitating the expansion of broadband communications services and infrastructure, both programs will advance the objectives of the Recovery Act to spur job creation and stimulate long-term economic growth and opportunity.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comment on the initial implementation of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA).\1\ The CSEA, which was enacted in 2004, created an innovative funding mechanism allowing Federal agencies to recover the costs of relocating their radio systems from the proceeds of the auction of the radio spectrum vacated. The first auction under the CSEA, that of the 1710- 1755 MHz band, concluded in 2006, providing new opportunities for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-1). Over two years into the relocation of Federal systems from this band, NTIA requests information on what implementation steps should be retained as best practices, what lessons have been learned, and what, if any, improvements should be made in future relocations under the CSEA.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hereby provides notice that on June 19, 2009, the Secretary of Commerce granted a limited waiver of section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No. 111- 5, 123 Stat. 115, 303 (2009) with respect to certain broadband equipment that will be used in projects funded under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

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

This notice announces the first public meeting of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG).

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Department of Commerce's Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) for new two-year terms. The CSMAC provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator on spectrum policy matters.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comment regarding the upcoming expiration of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This agreement has been in existence since November 25, 1998, and is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2009.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hereby makes certain changes regarding the revisions to and the public availability of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management (NTIA Manual). Specifically, NTIA adopts certain changes to update the version of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management with which Federal agencies must comply when requesting use of the radio

On February 24, 2009, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a Notice in the Federal Register announcing its intention to begin holding meetings on March 2, 2009, in connection with the broadband grant programs described in the Broadband Data Services Improvement Act, Public Law No. 110-385, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Public Law No. 111-5 (collectively, ``Broadband Grant Programs''). This Notice provides clarification regarding those meetings.

On February 11, 2009, President Obama signed into law the DTV Delay Act, which extended the deadline for the digital conversion and the coupon application period for the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Program (Coupon Program) by four months.\1\ The DTV Delay Act also authorized the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to issue replacement coupons to households whose coupons have otherwise expired unredeemed. These changes to the Coupon Program were conditioned upon enactment of new budget authority for the Coupon Program, which was recently provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.\2\

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is clarifying a notice published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2008 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). The 30 member limit applies only to private sector members of the OSTWG. The OSTWG membership will also include a certain number of Federal Government representatives as required by the Act. This notice does not reopen nominations for the OSTWG.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) publishes this notice of availability to announce a 30-day comment period for a Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) written to evaluate the environmental impact of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program. The Final PEA and Draft FONSI for the PSIC Grant Program are available for public review and comment. NTIA seeks public comment on the Final PEA and Draft FONSI from all interested parties.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announces that it is extending the solicitation period for applications for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) replacement digital television translator projects. NTIA will accept applications for these projects until Monday, May 18, 2009.