Yesterday, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA7) reintroduced the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Reauthorization Act. This legislation will improve the management of spectrum and update the mission and functions of the agency.
With Congress recently providing NTIA with $42.8 billion to address broadband deployment and digital equity and inclusion, Latta’s NTIA Reauthorization Act would give NTIA the tools to be successful in their mission and ensure American tax dollars are not wasted.
"NTIA plays a role in closing the digital divide for Americans who lack basic broadband Internet access, and it is the responsibility of Congress to re-evaluate these duties and ensure the agency has the tools and guidance to appropriately carry them out,” Latta said. “As the former Chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, I’m pleased to reintroduce this legislation to reauthorize the NTIA for the first time in 30 yers. This important, bipartisan legislation I’m leading with my colleague, Congresswoman Matsui, will help the agency carry out their mission to connect more Americans while ensuring taxpayer dollars are not wasted."
“Since NTIA was last reauthorized over three decades ago, the pace of technological innovation has accelerated exponentially,” Matsui said. “From spectrum governance to the digital economy, NTIA must be empowered to keep America the vanguard of global tech leadership. The bipartisan NTIA Reauthorization Act modernizes NTIA’s mission and provides new tools to ensure the agency can keep up with the pace of innovation.”
Congressman Latta and Congresswoman Matsui introduced the NTIA Resolution in the last Congress, where it successfully passed the House of Representatives.
Background on the NTIA:
NTIA plays a significant role in closing the digital divide, managing our nation’s spectrum, and advocating the United States’ telecommunications position on the world stage. NTIA has not been reauthorized since 1992, causing it to fall behind in new tools and direction to carry out the mission of connecting all Americans and finally closing the digital divide.
