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

Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, 121 Stat. 1844 (2007), 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; (3) strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) publishes this notice to announce the effective date of a Privacy Act System of Records entitled COMMERCE/NTIA-1, Applications Related to Coupons for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes. NTIA is creating a new system of records for applications related to coupons for the Digital-to- Analog Converter Box program. Information will be collected from individuals under the authority of Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (Feb. 8, 2006) (hereinafter ``the Act'') and pursuant to regulations published by NTIA in 47 C.F.R. Sec. 301. This new system of records is necessary to identify those households that qualify for and receive coupons towards the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box.

This notice announces the Department of Commerce's (Department) proposal for a new system of records under the Privacy Act. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is creating a new system of records for applications related to coupons for the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box program. Information will be collected from individuals under the authority of Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (Feb. 8, 2006) (hereinafter ``the Act'') and pursuant to regulations published by NTIA in 47 C.F.R. Sec. 301. This new system of records is necessary to identify those households that qualify for and receive coupons towards the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box.

The United States Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comments on the continued transition to the private sector of the technical coordination and management of the Internet's domain name and addressing system (DNS). NTIA and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) signed a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) on September 29, 2006. It called for a midpoint review of ICANN's progress towards becoming a more stable organization with greater transparency and accountability in its procedures and decision making. The Department of Commerce seeks comment regarding the progress achieved on the Responsibilities identified in the JPA.

5 CFR 430.310 requires agencies to publish notice of Performance Review Board appointees in the Federal Register before their service begins. This notice announces the names of new and existing members of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Performance Review Board.

On July 23, 2007, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a Notice of Availability of Funds in the Federal Register, 72 Fed. Reg. 40120, for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program. On August 3, 2007, the President signed into law the Improving Emergency Communications Act of 2007, Pub. L. No. 110-53, which amended Section 3006 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that authorized the PSIC Grant Program. This Notice provides amendments to PSIC Grant Program Notice of Availability of Funds.

NTIA will hold a public meeting on September 25, 2007, in connection with its Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program described in the Final Rule that was released on March 12, 2007.

This notice provides guidance for manufacturers that intend to submit digital-to-analog converter boxes to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for certification as part of the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. This notice also provides address and contact information regarding the required submission of test results and sample equipment.

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.

Pursuant to Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, Pub. L. 110-5, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), 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.

In this document, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) adopts regulations to implement and administer a coupon program for digital-to-analog converter boxes. This rule implements provisions of section 3005 of Public Law 109-171, known as the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. This action amends 47 CFR Chapter III by adding part 301.

Pursuant to the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, P. L. 110-5, 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; (3) strengthen the capability of existing public television and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announces that it will be holding individual meetings with interested parties on November 14-15, 2006 in connection with its digital-to-analog converter box coupon program described in the July 25, 2006 ``Request for Comment and Notice of Proposed Rules to Implement and Administer a Coupon Program for Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes'' (NPRM). All interested parties are invited to schedule an individual meeting.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) publishes this notice to announce the deletion of a Privacy Act System of Records entitled COMMERCE/NTIA-1, ``Radio Spectrum Management Career Development Program.'' NTIA no longer collects or maintains this system of records.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) proposes to implement and administer a program to provide $40 coupons to consumers for use towards the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. Congress mandated the coupon program in Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The converter boxes are necessary for consumers who wish to continue receiving broadcast programming over the air using analog-only televisions after February 18, 2009the date that full-power televisions stations are required to cease analog broadcasting. Without converter boxes, consumers with analog-only television sets will be unable to view full-power television broadcasts unless they purchase digital television sets or subscribe to cable or satellite service.

The reports developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in response to the President's Spectrum Policy Initiative included a recommendation that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) develop a plan to increase sharing of spectrum between Federal and non- Federal users which includes evaluation of technologies that are proposed to enhance sharing.\1\ This Notice seeks public comment to address the implementation of the Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed (Test-Bed) where Federal and non-Federal users can study the feasibility of increasing the efficient use of the spectrum.

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 continuing and proposed information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

On October 28, 2005, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration published a notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 62,099) announcing the formation of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (Committee) and soliciting nominations for persons to serve on the Committee. The October 28, 2005 notice provided that all nominations of potential members must be received by the Department no later than November 28, 2005. The October 28, 2005 notice also provided additional information concerning the Committee and membership on the Committee. This notice reopens the nomination period in order to provide the public with an additional opportunity to submit nominations. The evaluation criteria for selecting members contained in the October 28, 2005 notice shall continue to apply.

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)).

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, will host a half-day public meeting on wireless security entitled, ``Pharmers and Spimmers, Hackers and Bluejackers: Combating Wireless Security Threats.'' The forum is an opportunity for interested parties to discuss existing and potential vulnerabilities that threaten the security of consumers and businesses using new and/or forthcoming wireless communications for voice or data, and private sector and governmental responses to those vulnerabilities. The forum will serve to inform policymakers and industry on issues that may affect the use of spectrum and the growth of wireless industries, while raising public awareness of vulnerabilities. The first panel will address possible threats and security issues concerning new mobile technologies (e.g. Wi-Fi, smart cell phones, WiMax, mesh networks). Panelists will include wireless industry experts, academics, government users, market analysts and researchers. The second panel will discuss the variety of security solutions that might address the problems identified in Panel 1, and the need (if any) for further development of tools and public awareness and education. Panelists will include representative security vendors, wireless companies with hardware solutions, companies and/or government entities involved with education campaigns, and representatives of self-regulatory groups seeking solutions.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is repealing its regulations governing reimbursement to federal entities by the private sector as a result of reallocation of frequency spectrum. The agency is taking this action in accordance with the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act which repealed the provision in the NTIA Organization Act under which the agency promulgated these regulations. The Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act established a fund within the Department of Treasury through which money will be provided to federal agencies for the costs incurred in relocating their radio communications systems.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).