Mixed House Communications Reception for Draft NTIA Reauthorization Bill

“I think there is a lot of agreement” on some parts of the draft bill, including “that we need to make certain NTIA is in shape to handle” work to increase broadband deployments, Blackburn told reporters. She found "a lot of agreement” on attached language from the House Communications-cleared Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act (HR-3994), which would establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within NTIA (see 1806130047). “We're going to move forward” with a subcommittee markup of the bill “fairly soon,” Blackburn said.

House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and House Communications ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., diverged in assessments of the draft. Pallone is “disappointed” the plan relies so heavily on the text of HR-3994 and “fails to provide NTIA the authority and direction it needs.” Pallone praised the document for returning NTIA's allocation to the level it was at in President Barack Obama's FY 2017 budget proposal but “this does not reflect the additional tasks and duties we now seek.” Doyle noted his willingness to work with Blackburn on the legislation. He also cited Democratic-led broadband bills that merit subcommittee attention, including the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-2479) and the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum (Airwaves) Act (HR-4953).

Pallone and other Democrats lamented that Administrator David Redl wasn't present. An NTIA spokeswoman confirmed House Communications didn't invite Redl but noted his appearance at a March subcommittee hearing on NTIA oversight (see 1803060048). Redl also testified earlier this month before the Senate Commerce Committee on NTIA issues (see 1806130095). NTIA is “going to like what we have to offer” in the bill, Blackburn told reporters.

Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., was among subcommittee lawmakers highlighting debate over whether to promote the administrator from assistant secretary of commerce-communications and information to a subcabinet-level by elevating the position to undersecretary. Republicans have been seen to have deliberately left such language and other potential provisions out of the draft to draw Democratic support (see 1806250037). “That's something that we've heard from many people that they think we should do,” but the issue requires further negotiations with Doyle and Senate Commerce members, Blackburn said. The title change has been up for debate since House Communications began working on NTIA recertification last year (see 1803060048).

Entertainment Software Association CEO Michael Gallagher and industry consultant John Kneuer, administrators during President George W. Bush's administration, endorsed elevating the agency head to undersecretary. Kneuer noted the administrator is technically at the subcabinet level because the person reports directly to the secretary of commerce. Elevating the title is much more relevant from the perspective of clarifying the administrator's position within the U.S. government hierarchy for foreign officials at international forums dealing with global telecom and internet policy, Kneuer said. “We move through political appointees” far more quickly than do other nations' governments, so a title change would provide much-needed clarity, Gallagher said.

Republicans and Democrats noted the draft's role as a potential starting point for further legislation to encourage broadband deployments. House Digital Commerce Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, suggested earlier this year that a NTIA recertification bill could be a vehicle for a bigger broadband bill (see 1804170059 and 1804230061). The legislation “is a rural broadband bill, and a very important one at that,” Blackburn said now. “Many of us hear over and over again about the desperate need to connect unserved Americans, and we are willing to invest toward that goal, but we must ensure good stewardship.” The draft would direct NTIA to work with the FCC and consult with other federal and state agencies on broadband connectivity data mapping.

There is “bipartisan and bicameral agreement” existing broadband maps, which rely heavily on FCC-collected data, “need improvement,” said Rep. David Loebsack, D-Iowa: House Communications needs to “work together” as the bill progresses to do “all we can to ensure” the maps are as accurate as possible, especially in rural areas. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, believes NTIA is “in a good position” to compile data from multiple federal and private sector sources” on broadband connectivity.

CTC Technology & Energy President Joanne Hovis urged House Communications to use the legislation to ensure the agency is able to continue its “critical role” in convening “federal, state, and local entities, as well as for private sector companies and other stakeholders.” NTIA “has a critically important role to fill in improving the broadband environment nationally,” she said. “This role is essential, because our work of expanding broadband access and availability is far from done.” Hovis, who also leads the Coalition for Local Internet Choice, endorsed HR-2479, which proposes $40 billion for broadband deployment in a broader infrastructure package (see 1706020056).