National Telecommunications and Information Administration June 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the ``Act'') appropriated $285 million to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish the Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program. The CMC Pilot Program will provide grants to eligible historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs); Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs); and Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in anchor communities for broadband internet access service, equipment, or to hire information technology personnel to facilitate educational instruction including remote instruction, and to lend or provide equipment to eligible students or patrons. This final rule describes NTIA's programmatic scope, eligibility criteria, and general guidelines for the CMC Pilot Program as authorized by the Act. NTIA will subsequently publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on www.grants.gov that will provide more details regarding the CMC eligibility guidelines, application instructions, and program requirements.

The Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity directs the Department of Commerce, in coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to publish the minimum elements for a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). Through this Notice, following from the Executive Order, NTIA is requesting comments on the minimum elements for an SBOM, and what other factors should be considered in the request, production, distribution, and consumption of SBOMs.