House Committee Advances Bill to Reauthorize and Strengthen NTIA

On July 27, the House Energy and Commerce committee favorably reported, by a 48-0 vote, H.R. 4510, the NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2023. Introduced by House Communications & Technology Subcommittee Bob Latta, the bill was unanimously approved in the form of a substitute. As the title suggests, the legislation would reauthorize the agency, but it also includes several other provisions. Among other things, H.R. 4510 would elevate the position of NTIA Administrator from an Assistant Secretary of the Commerce Department to an Under Secretary position, and thereby give the Administrator and agency additional clout in overseeing federal use of spectrum and other important government functions. The legislation also would codify several offices within the agency, including the Office of Spectrum Management. It also would codify the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC).

Furthermore, H.R. 4510 would consolidate several disparate required agency reports into a consolidated annual report. And the NTIA would be required to prepare a strategy report on closing the digital divide.

 

Over the past few years, the NTIA's role in coordinating among executive branch agencies regarding federal spectrum policy and federal agency spectrum use has taken on added importance. The federal government is the primary user of a significant amount of valuable spectrum, and the NTIA plays a critical role to facilitate the repurposing of spectrum for private commercial use. By strengthening the position of the NTIA Administrator, H.R. 4510 hopefully will contribute positively to the agency's effectiveness in serving that role. At the same time, as pointed out in my July 14 blog post, "Successful Interagency Coordination Requires Discipline from the Top," presidential leadership appears to be a necessary ingredient for ensuring that executive branch agencies act in a disciplined manner and comply with interagency processes regarding federal agency spectrum use and the repurposing of spectrum for private use. 

 

In all, H.R. 4510 appears to be a reasonable piece of legislation. The unanimous approval it has received at the committee and subcommittee levels bodes well for the bill's chances of passage by the House of Representatives.