House Communications Sets Wednesday NTIA-Centric Bills Markup

The House Communications Subcommittee plans to mark up the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-4510) and 10 other agency-centric tech and telecom bills Wednesday, the Commerce Committee said Monday. The subpanel examined draft versions of the measures during a May NTIA oversight hearing (see 2305230067). HR-4510 would elevate the NTIA administrator’s affiliated role as assistant Commerce secretary-communications and information to an undersecretary level. It would set NTIA’s annual appropriations at $62 million in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. The agenda includes three spectrum-focused bills: the Spectrum Relocation Enhancement Act (HR-3430), Spectrum Coexistence Act (HR-3431) and Commerce Spectrum Coordination Act (HR-4513). HR-3430 would make changes to what relocation or sharing costs are eligible for reimbursement from the Spectrum Relocation Fund and alter how federal agencies receive payments from the program. HR-3431 would require NTIA to establish a working group to update criteria and other measures for federal radio receivers. HR-4513 would codify the existing Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Council. Also on the docket: the AI Accountability Act (HR-3369); DiasporaLink Act (HR-3385); Novel, Advanced, Spectrum and Communications Technology Networks Promotion Act (HR-4504); Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act (HR-4505); Timely Evaluation of Acquisitions, Mergers or Transactions with External, Lawful Entities to Clear Owners and Management Act (HR-4506); Public Safety Communications Act (HR-4511); and Digital Economy Cybersecurity Advisory Act (HR-4512). NTIA “plays a key role in closing the digital divide and strengthening American leadership in next-generation communications technology,” but its “duties have changed since it was last reauthorized more than 30 years ago,” said House Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Communications Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, in a statement. “It’s Congress’s responsibility to re-evaluate these duties and authorities and make sure the agency has the tools and congressional guidance needed to carry them out.” The markup session will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.