National Telecommunications and Information Administration
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National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is a U.S. Department of Commerce agency that plays a dual role in both geographic deployment and statistical analysis of telecommunications. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C., while its primary research facility, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), is located in Boulder, Colorado.
Geographic Programs
NTIA's geographic programs are largely focused on bridging the digital divide and ensuring broadband access for all Americans. The agency administers a number of significant grant programs for this purpose, including:
| • | Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: This is a major funding initiative to provide high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas across all states and territories. The BEAD program relies heavily on geographic data to identify the areas most in need of infrastructure development. |
| • | Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: This program specifically targets tribal governments to fund broadband deployment on tribal lands. |
| • | Middle Mile Program: This program focuses on expanding the "middle mile" infrastructure, which links local networks to the broader internet backbone. |
A key tool in these efforts is the National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM), a geographic information system (GIS) platform that visualizes and analyzes federal, state, and commercial broadband data. The NBAM helps officials and stakeholders make data-driven decisions about where to invest in broadband infrastructure.
Statistical Programs
The NTIA's statistical work revolves around measuring and understanding the digital landscape of the United States. Its main statistical program is the NTIA Internet Use Survey, conducted periodically as a supplement to the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. This program collects data on a wide range of topics, including:
| • | Internet adoption and use: The survey tracks the percentage of American households and individuals that use the internet, as well as the types of activities they engage in online. |
| • | Digital skills and literacy: It assesses Americans' ability to use digital devices and the internet effectively. |
| • | Barriers to adoption: The survey identifies reasons why some Americans don't use the internet, such as cost, lack of access, or lack of digital skills. |
NTIA makes the datasets from its Internet Use Survey publicly available, enabling researchers to conduct their own analysis on topics like the relationship between demographics, income, and internet access. The agency also partners with the Census Bureau on projects like Project LEIA (Local Estimates of Internet Adoption), which uses statistical modeling to provide more granular, county-level estimates of internet adoption, going beyond what is possible with traditional survey methods alone.