The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce is requesting $51 million for FY 2015 to increase wireless broadband access and to coordinate critical telecommunications policy.
NTIA is working to free up to 500 MHZ of spectrum through spectrum auctions, which would increase commercial access to wireless broadband spectrum and reduce the deficit by nearly $20 billion over the next ten years.
An additional $7.5 million would establish NTIA’s new Internet Policy Center that would coordinate and help in policymaking across broadband stakeholders. The budget also provides $7 billion to develop a fully interoperable public safety and first responder broadband network through FirstNet.
The budget includes $210 million for the Economic Development Administration (EDA to support innovative economic development planning, regional capacity building, and capital projects. This includes $25 million for the Regional Innovation Strategies Program to promote economic development projects to spur entrepreneurship and innovation at the regional level.
The budget also requests $680 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories to advance research to include research in cybersecurity, advanced communications, disaster resilience, and standards development. Included in this amount is $6 million for NIST to accelerate and expand technology transfer across the federal government.
The International Trade Administration is requesting $497 million which is an eight percent increase over the FY 2014 enacted level. Funding would include $15 million to accelerate the operations of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center to address unfair trade practices hindering U.S. exporters.
The FCC has been given an added $20 million to make possible reforms in the Universal Service Fund program, make information technology upgrades, and provide program support for the 2015 incentive spectrum auctions as required in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.