The FY 2001 appropriations legislation signed into law by President Clinton provides $100,437,000 in appropriations for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an increase from the $73.4 million for FY 2000. The major items in the FY 2001 budget are: $11.437 million for salaries and expenses; $45.5 million for the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), and $43.5 million for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP).

Gregory L. Rohde, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), issued the following statement on the FY 2001 budget:

"I want to express my appreciation to Congress for allowing NTIA to expand two of its most highly successful programs, the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) and the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) in the coming fiscal year. Congress appropriated $45.5 million for TOP, an amount almost triple the $15.5 million for the FY 2000 appropriation. This level of funding will allow even more communities the ability to explore the new uses of advanced telecommunications services and applications.

Congress also appropriated $43.5 million for PTFP, an increase from the $26.5 million in the current fiscal year. Those funds will go a long way to bring public broadcasters into the digital age."