National Information Infrastructure

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch's principal voice on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues. NTIA works to spur innovation, encourage competition, help create jobs, and provide consumers with more choices and better quality telecommunications products and services at lower prices.

Why Is It Important For the United States To Have An Agency Like NTIA?

By the 21st Century, telecommunications and information-related industries will account for approximately 20 percent of the U.S. economy. Telecommunications and information issues are dynamic, multi-disciplinary and complex. NTIA's expertise and advocacy enable the U.S. to continue its lead in this area that is an integral part of America's competitiveness. In fulfilling this responsibility, NTIA is providing greater access for all Americans, championing greater foreign market access and creating new opportunities with technology.

How Does NTIA Endeavor To Provide Greater Access For All Americans?

NTIA provides greater access by:

• Working to ensure that all Americans have affordable phone and cable service.
• Helping to bring the benefits of advanced telecommunications technologies to millions of Americans in rural and underserved urban areas through its information infrastructure grants.
• Providing the hardware that enables public radio and television broadcasters to extend and maintain the reach of their programming, including distance learning, to underserved areas across the Nation.
• Providing seed money to help create quality educational programming for children.

How Does NTIA Champion Greater Foreign Market Access?

NTIA champion's greater foreign market access by:

• Advocating competition and liberalization of telecommunications policies around the world.
• Participating in international government-to-government negotiations to open markets for U.S. companies
• Negotiating with foreign governments to ensure adequate spectrum for national defense, public safety, and U.S. business needs.

How Does NTIA Create New Opportunities With Technology?

NTIA create's new opportunities with technology by:

• Promoting efficient use of Federal radio spectrum using advanced technologies and encouraging the Federal Government to transfer spectrum for use by the private sector to develop and implement new and emerging telecommunications technologies.
• Performing long-term research to explore efficient uses of higher frequency spectrum, including wireless communications and other services.
• Developing and promoting spectrum auction policies, which have provided the basis for the Federal Communications Commission's recent spectrum auctions.