Press Release: Commerce’s NTIA Announces More Than 100 Retailers Certified to Participate in TV Converter Box Coupon Program for Digital Television Transition: The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that eight of the largest consumer electronics retailers -- Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart -- have been certified to participate in the TV Converter Box Coupon Program along with more than 100 other retailers, representing more than 14,000 stores throughout the nation, and additional Program details.
• Press Release (Printable version - Acrobat PDF 40 Kb)
• Certified Retailers (Acrobat PDF 260 Kb)
• Certified Converter Boxes
Posted 12-11-2007, Updated 12-28-2007

Public Notice: Third Meeting Of Joint Advisory Committee On Communications Capabilities Of Emergency Medical And Public Health Care Facilities Scheduled For December 18, 2007: At its third meeting, the Joint Committee’s informal working groups will report on their progress. The Joint Committee may also receive presentations from invited representatives of organizations that address health care communications issues. (Acrobat PDF 25 Kb)
Posted 12-07-2007

Notice of Open Meeting: Spectrum Management Advisory Committee: NTIA issues announcement of a public meeting of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee which provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum management matters. The meeting will be held on December 6, 2007, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
• Federal Notice
• Federal Notice (Printable Acrobat PDF 33 Kb)
Posted 11-19-2007

NTIA and FCC Issue Public Notice on Emergency and Public Health Communications Advisory Committee Meeting: The NTIA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice that the Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities (“Joint Committee”) will hold its second meeting on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305), Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.
Posted 11-15-2007

Press Release: Departments of Commerce and State Release Joint Statement on the Second Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum: Joint Statement by Assistant Secretary John M. R. Kneuer and Ambassador David A. Gross on the Second Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 12-15, 2007
Posted 11-08-2007

Press Release: Kneuer encourages OECD to better capture all broadband services: U.S. leads the world in broadband lines, Wi-Fi hotspots, Internet users, Internet hubs and E-commerce
• Press Release: Assistant Secretary John M.R. Kneuer statement on OECD Study
• Report: FCC Data on High-Speed Services for Internet Access
• Press Release: FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Services for Internet Access
• April 2007 State Department Letter on OECD Study on Broadband Use (PDF 130 Kb)
• April 2007 NTIA Fact Sheet on Broadband Use in the United States [ -- HTML -- PDF (12 Kb) -- ]
Posted: 11-05-2007

Commerce’s NTIA Seeks Public Comments Regarding Joint Project Agreement with ICANN: NTIA will consult with interested stakeholders regarding the mid-term review of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between the Department and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The Notice of Inquiry (NOI) requesting comments was published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2007 with comments due February 15, 2008.
• Press Release Posted 10-29-2007
• Federal Register: Notice of Inquiry (Acrobat PDF Version 22 Kb) Posted 11-01-2007
• Speech: Asst. Secretary John M.R. Kneuer addresses the 30th Annual International Meeting of ICANN, Los Angeles, CA, October 29th, 2007

Congressional Testimony: NTIA Testifies on Preparing Consumers for the Digital Television Transition before the House Telecommunications Subcommittee and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation: On October 17, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer testified before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet of the U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation fo the U.S. Senate on preparing consumers for the digital television transition.
• Testimony before U.S. House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
• Testimony before U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Posted 10-17-2007

Speech: International Growth of Wireless Technologies and Markets: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Meredith Attwell Baker presented the keynote address for the 3G Americas meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, in Washington, DC.
Posted 10-17-2007

Press Release: Secretary Gutierrez Praises NAB's $697 Million Commitment: U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez praised the National Association of Broadcasters' (NAB's) $697 million consumer education campaign to promote the digital television transition.
Posted 10-15-2007

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Announces Technology Council: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced the creation of the Department of Commerce Technology Council, a department-wide council led by the Office of the Secretary to coordinate technology policy and provide a forum for information-sharing, analysis and deliberation of technology policy issues that cut across the diverse range of agencies within the Commerce Department
Posted 09-28-2007

ICANN Contract Term Extended: NTIA exercised the option to extend the term of the IANA Functions contract with ICANN for Option Year One covering the 1-year period of October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.
Posted 09-27-2007

Press Release: Commerce’s NTIA Meeting and Expo Showcases Consumer Education Efforts for Digital TV Transition and Converter Box Coupon Program: Public, Private Education Efforts Pave the Way for Successful Transition 
• Press Release (Print version - Acrobat PDF 36 Kb)
• Complete Program and Exhibitor List (Acrobat PDF 280 Kb)
Posted 09-25-2007

Congressional Testimony: NTIA Testifies on Digital Television Transition and its Impact On Older Americans: On September 19, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer testified before the Special Committee on Aging of the United States Senate on the digital television transition and its impact on older Americans.
[ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (394 Kb) -- ]
Posted 09-19-2007

Press Release: Commerce’s NTIA Announces Agenda for Digital Television Public Meeting and Expo, Sept. 25: Full-Power TV Stations to Cease Analog Broadcasts, Switch to Digital after Feb. 17, 2009
• Press Release
• Comunicado de prensa en español
• DTV Meeting and Expo Agenda and Exhibiter List (Acrobat PDF 169 Kb)
Posted 09-10-2007

Press Release: Secretary Gutierrez Applauds NCTA's $200 Million Digital Television Education Campaign: U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez applauds the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's $200 million English and Spanish consumer education campaign to promote the transition to digital television on February 17, 2009.
Posted 09-07-2007

Federal Register Notice: Request for Nominations and Expressions of Interest, Joint Advisory Committee: NTIA and the FCC are establishing the Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities.
Posted 09-05-2007

Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Workshops: NTIA will hold four one-day PSIC Grant Program Investment Justifications Workshops scheduled for the last week of September and first day of October, 2007:
• Monday, September 24th -- South Region -- Dallas, Texas
• Wednesday, September 26th -- Central Region -- Denver, Colorado
• Friday, September 28th -- East Region -- Newark, New Jersey
• Monday, October 1st -- West Region -- Los Angeles, California
Posted 08-23-2007

FCC Comments: Paging Operations on Emergency Medical Service Mutual Aid and Search and Rescue Channels: NTIA has filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the review and update of Part 90 of the Commission's Rules for emergency communications used by public safety agencies, specifically regarding paging operations on emergency medical service mutual aid and search and rescue channels. (Acrobat PDF 151 Kb)
Posted 08-21-2007

Federal Register Notice: Amendment to Notice of Availability of Funds for Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program: On July 23, 2007, NTIA published a Notice of Availability of Funds for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program. On August 3, 2007, the President signed into law Public Law No. 110-53, which amended the PSIC Grant Program Notice of Availability of Funds.
(Printable version Acrobat PDF 50 Kb)
- Federal Register Notice: Amendment to Notice of Availability of Funds
- Brief Description of Modifications to PSIC Grant Program
- REVISED PSIC Program Guidance and Application Kit (Acrobat PDF 493 Kb)
- MODIFIED Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement (Acrobat PDF 112 Kb)
Posted 08-16-2007

Media Advisory: NTIA to Hold Second Public Meeting on DTV Coupon Program: On Tuesday, September 25 at 9 a.m., NTIA will hold a Public Meeting, Expo and Networking Event in the Commerce Department auditorium and lobby.
Posted 08-07-2007

Congressional Testimony: NTIA Testifies on Preparing Consumers for the Digital Television Transition before the Senate Commerce Committee: On July 26, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer testified before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the United States Senate on preparing consumers for the digital television transition
[ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (30Kb) -- ]
Posted 07-26-2007

Federal Register Notice: NTIA to Hold Second Public Meeting on DTV Coupon Program: On Tuesday, September 25 at 9 a.m., NTIA will hold a Public Meeting, Expo and Networking Event in the Commerce Department auditorium and lobby. [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (15 Kb) -- ]
Posted 07-19-2007

Secretaries Gutierrez and Chertoff to Announce Nearly $1 Billion in Grants for First Responder Communications: On Wednesday, July 18, 2007, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff will announce the $968 million Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grants to help state and local first responders improve public safety communications during a natural or man-made disaster for All 50 States, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Territories.
• Press Advisory [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (111 Kb) -- ]
• Press Release and State Allocations (Acrobat PDF 59 Kb)
• Remarks of U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez
• Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement (Acrobat PDF 112 Kb)
• Federal Register Notice of Availability of Funds published on July 23, 2007 (Acrobat PDF 69 Kb)
• PSIC Fact Sheet (Acrobat PDF 33 Kb)
• PSIC Program Guidance and Application Kit: Applicants should prepare their applications based on the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement and the Program Guidance. (Acrobat PDF 501 Kb)
• PSIC Frequently-Asked Questions (Acrobat PDF 66 Kb)
• Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program
• DHS State Homeland Security Contacts
Posted 07-18-2007

Business Opportunities: Administration of Country Code Top-Level Internet Domain for the US (usTLD): The Department of Commerce seeks to acquire centralized management and coordination of registry, registrar (where specified), database, and information services for the Internet ".us" Top Level Domain name (usTLD).
• Federal Business Opportunities: usTLD (NTIA)
  - Synopsis - Posted on May 30, 2007
  - Amendment 01 - Posted on Jun 07, 2007
  - Solicitation 01 - Posted on Jul 03, 2007
  - Request for Quote (RFQ) (Acrobat PDF 219 Kb)
Posted 07-05-2007

AP Video About Digital TV Converter Boxes: Associated Press Technical Writer Peter Svensson features the conversion to digital television and the converter box program. (video 1:42) (Available at AP Online Video Network www.ap.org/ovn/)

Press Release: Commerce Department Report Encourages Commercial Technologies for First Responders: The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in a report released today encourages the federal, state and local public safety community to consider utilizing commercial technologies in satisfying broadband interoperable communications among first responders. 
• Press Release [ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF (23 Kb) -- ]
• Spectrum Policy For The 21st Century – The President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative: A Public Safety Sharing Demonstration (DC Wireless Accelerated Responder Network) [ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF (2.5 Mb) -- ]
Posted 06-08-2007

Internet Domain Name and Addressing System (DNS) Top Level Domain for the United States (usTLD): The Department of Commerce/ National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued a "sources sought" notice of an intention to procure centralized management and coordination of registry, registrar (where specified), database, and information services for the usTLD. The notice requests interested parties to provide information about their technical capability by June 22, 2007.
• FedBizOpps Notice
• FedBizOpps Notice (NTIA site)
• Clarifying amendment to the FedBizOpps Notice
Updated 06-08-2007

Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program Public Meeting, June 4, 2007: John M. R. Kneuer, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, U.S. Department Of Commerce, will welcome participants to this public meeting, which will cover program policies, present ways to avoid audit problems, and provide a question and answer session. Meeting will be held at the H. C. Hoover Building Auditorium, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC from 10am to 12pm.
• Webcast Audio File (mp3 file, 28.8 Mb) Please note that audio recording encountered technical difficulties that affected the webcast for the first five minutes. A transcript of the program will be available at a later date.
Posted: 06-04-2007
• Meeting Agenda [ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF -- ]
Posted: 05-31-2007
• Presentation: Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF -- MS Powerpoint -- ]
Posted: 05-31-2007
• Presentation: How to Avoid Audit Problems [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF -- MS Powerpoint -- ]
Posted: 05-31-2007
• Press Advisory [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (22 Kb) -- ]
Posted: 05-17-2007
• Federal Register Notice [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (16 Kb) -- ]
Posted: 05-17-2007

Federal Register Notice: Assistance to DTV Converter Box Manufacturers: 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.
[ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF -- ]
Additional NTIA responses to Frequently Asked Questions from Manufacturers.
Posted 05/25/2007

NTIA to Hold Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program Public Meeting, June 4, 2007
• Press Advisory [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (22 Kb) -- ]
• Federal Register Notice [ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (16 Kb) -- ]
Posted: 05-17-2007

Federal Register Notice: Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee Meeting: This notice announces a public meeting of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2007, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Washington, DC.
Please note: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building in room HCHB 4830. Please enter at the main entrance on 14th Street.
[ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF (52 Kb)-- ]
Posted: 05-15-2007

• State Department Letter on OECD Study on Broadband Use (PDF 130 Kb)
- NTIA Fact Sheet on Broadband Use in the United States [ -- HTML -- PDF (12 Kb) -- ]
Posted: 04-24-2007

Public Meeting on DTV Coupon Program: NTIA held a public meeting on Monday, March 19, in connection with its Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program described in the Final Rule that was recently adopted.
[ -- HTML -- MS Powerpoint -- Acrobat PDF (263Kb) -- ]
Posted 03-22-2007

Congressional Testimony: NTIA Testifies before House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on "Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Innovations in Interoperability."
[ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF (30Kb) -- ]
Posted 03-22-2007

NTIA will held a public meeting on Monday, March 19, in connection with its Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program described in the Final Rule that was recently adopted. A webcast archive of the event is being prepared.
Posted 03-19-2007

Congressional Testimony: NTIA Testifies before House Committee on Homeland Security: Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security.
[ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF (25Kb) -- ]
A webcast of the hearing is available from the House of Representatives' website at http://homeland.house.gov/hearings/index.asp?ID=18
Posted 03-14-2007

Notice: NTIA Issues RFP: NTIA has issued a Request for Proposals to provide services in support of the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program authorized by section 3005 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
• Federal Business Opportunities information (FBO)
• NTIA version (if FBO site is unavailable)
Posted 03-14-2007

NTIA Releases Final Rule on Digital Television Converter Box Coupon Program: The converter box coupon program will assist Americans in receiving over-the-air broadcast television programming when full-power television stations cease analog broadcasting after February 17, 2009. 
• Press Release [ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF -- ] -- En Español
• Archived video of the 03-12-2007 NTIA Press Conference (116Mb Windows Media Video File Format)
• Final Rule on Digital Television Converter Box Coupon Program
   [ -- HTML -- WordPerfect -- Acrobat PDF (167Kb) -- Federal Register PDF (292Kb) -- ]
• Digital TV Fact Sheet for Consumers (Acrobat PDF 181 Kb)
• Digital TV Fact Sheet for Retailers (Acrobat PDF 178 Kb)
• Digital TV Fact Sheet for Manufacturers (Acrobat PDF 242 Kb)
• Digital Television Transition & Public Safety Web Site
Posted 03-12-2007

Notice: NTIA to Hold Public Meeting on DTV Coupon Program: On Monday, March 19 at 10 a.m., NTIA will hold a Public Meeting in the Commerce Department auditorium to take questions from the public on the Final Rule.
[ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (83Kb) -- ]
Posted 03-12-2007

Congressional Testimony: NTIA Testifies before House Subcommittee on FY 2008 Budget: Assistant Secretary of Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on the President’s FY 2008 Budget request for NTIA.
[ -- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF (23Kb) -- ]
Posted 03-12-2007

Media Advisory: Final Rule for Digital-To-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program: NTIA will announce the final rule for the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program at 11 a.m. on March 12, 2007. The converter box coupon program will assist Americans in receiving over-the-air broadcast television programming when full-power television stations cease analog broadcasting after February 17, 2009.  
[ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (23Kb) -- ]
Posted 03-09-2007

Grant Application for Public Telecommunications: The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) has published a Federal Funding Opportunity Notice detailing the FY 2007 PTFP grant round application requirements and guidelines. The deadline for all applications is April 6, 2007.
Posted 03-05-2007

Speech: Expanding Our Horizons, Expanding Our Networks: Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M.R. Kneuer Addressed the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) Leadership on February 21, 2007
[ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (53Kb) -- ]
Posted 02-26-2007

Fact Sheet: Frequently Asked Questions About .us TLD Locality Domains and Delegated Managers
[ -- HTML -- Acrobat PDF (43Kb) -- ]
Posted 02-23-2007

Letter to FCC Chairman: Classification of Wireless Broadband Internet Access: Letter from Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M.R. Kneuer to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin regarding the classification of wireless broadband Internet Access
[-- HTML -- MS Word -- Acrobat PDF 14Kb -- ]
Dated 02-23-2007

Commerce, DHS Memorandum of Understanding for Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grants (3.5Mb Acrobat PDF format)
Posted 02-22-2007

Fact Sheet: Memorandum of Understanding to implement the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program
Posted 02-22-2007

Report to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget on Agency Plans for Spectrum Relocation Funds pursuant to the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (187K Acrobat PDF format)
Posted 02-21-2007

NTIA Announces Staff Appointments
• Meredith Attwell Baker, Deputy Assistant Secretary
• David T. Murray, Senior Advisor
• Todd Sedmak, Communications Director
Posted 02-06-2007

NTIA Releases Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request and Supporting Documents
Posted 02-05-2007

NTIA Administrator John Kneuer discusses the February 2009 transition to Digital TV on C-SPAN, Saturday, February 3. C-SPAN website page with link to video
Posted 02-02-2007

NTIA files comments related to Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems and general maritime communications (Acrobat PDF 136Kb)
Posted 01-29-2007

Hoadley of Nortel Appointed to Spectrum Advisory Committee: John Hoadley, vice president of Nortel's Next Generation Wireless Access, has been appointed to the Spectrum Advisory Committee. He oversees advanced wireless research for Nortels broad wireless product portfolio.
- Commerce Department Announces Committee to Advise on Management of Nation’s Airwaves (Nov. 3, 2006)
Posted 01-16-2007

Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program Presolicitation Notice: The Department of Commerce/National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide services in support of the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program authorized by section 3005 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
- Federal Business Opportunities: Presoliciation Notice (synopsis)
- Presolicitation Notice (NTIA version)
Updated 01-05-2007