By: Karen Hanson, Director of Interagency Coordination, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

As projects from the Biden-Harris administration’s Internet for All initiative connect people to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service around the country, coordinating across the federal government is crucial to maximize taxpayer dollars and ensure no one is left behind.

That interagency coordination is now stronger than ever, and yet can be further strengthened through additional action.  

To that point, NTIA today released a report based on the Government Accountability Office’s recommendation to assess legislative barriers in coordinating Federal broadband programs, and how to address those barriers.

The report highlights steps taken by agencies to promote alignment and provides suggestions for further improvements.

Alignment across federal agencies can prove challenging because programs are often authorized at different points in time and frequently impose different deployment obligations, timelines, and technical specifications. Despite this NTIA works collaboratively with our colleagues to promote best practices and make improvements where possible.

The report outlines recommendations to build on current efforts, mechanisms currently in place to minimize potential duplication between federal programs, and NTIA’s role in coordination.

NTIA makes the following recommendations to build on current efforts:

• Program alignment at the time of authorization: Programs should be standardized to reduce complexity and unnecessary variation for applicants and other stakeholders.
• Coordination of funding: Agencies should continue to coordinate to minimize duplication and to promote the most efficient uses of federal broadband funding for locations with unmet needs. Agencies should document standard operating procedures to that effect.
• Data collection and mapping: Federal broadband programs should include reporting requirements in line with the data standards required for the Broadband Funding Map and NTIA’s annual ACCESS BROADBAND report. Efforts to incentivize states to contribute data to the Broadband Funding Map should be explored.
• Adoption of common policies: Similar award policies would support the ability to adjust awards in the case of inadvertent duplication.  
• Enshrine a deduplication process in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Agencies should consider revising the existing MOUs to establish a single, consistent deduplication review process that includes a review period for other broadband agencies and State Broadband Offices before the funding agency makes final commitments.

Coordination Mechanisms Currently in Place

Coordinating the Impact of Federal Broadband Funding

NTIA works closely with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of the Treasury, and the Federal Communications Commission to implement the MOU originally signed in May 2022 and recently renewed that requires agencies to collect and share data.

The agencies collaborate to develop and implement consistent practices that analyze broadband deployment data and share concerns regarding potential duplication of federal funding prior to making an award.

This builds on the history of interagency collaboration spanning past administrations, including the Broadband Opportunity Council, Broadband Interagency Working Group, and American Broadband Initiative.

Data Sharing and Transparency

NTIA supported the FCC’s development of the Broadband Funding Map (BFM), provides its data to the BFM, and encourages interagency participation to inform planning and decision-making by federal funders and states.

Program and Policy Alignment

The Broadband Coordination Group (BCG) is a working group co-chaired by the White House’s National Economic Council and NTIA, which includes representatives from the Department of Commerce, USDA, Treasury, and the FCC. The BCG meets regularly to promote alignment between programs, discuss policy issues, and raise recommendations to agency and White House principals as needed. A key aspect of program alignment is delivering consistent policies and reporting standards for funding recipients.

NTIA’s role

In addition to facilitating interagency coordination, NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth produces reports, promotes stakeholder outreach and engagement, and implements historic broadband programs:

NTIA and USDA co-chair bi-weekly interagency meetings of the Federal Funding Workstream (FFWS), which bring together over 20 federal agencies to learn about the work being done to expand high-speed Internet access, and to promote alignment and coordination.

• Communication methods, including NTIA’s BroadbandUSA website and newsletters, raise awareness about program updates and funding options.
• NTIA produces an annual report for Congress detailing federal broadband investment with the cooperation of federal agencies and the FCC.
• The ACCESS BROADBAND Dashboard, an online tool developed in partnership with the Census Bureau, includes a series of maps showing different broadband access and adoption measures.
• Stakeholder engagement with state, local, territorial and Tribal communities, facilitated by NTIA, ensures federal agencies and the FCC hear from the public.

NTIA stands ready to work with interagency, Congressional, and state and local partners to ensure federal funding for broadband access, adoption, and availability is used efficiently and enables the common goal of closing the digital divide.