The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has been described as an obscure part of the US Gov. Commerce Department, but that’s misleading because it has had important impacts on various communications issues in the US over the years. It was given core responsibilities the last time affordable quality broadband got large funding from the Obama Administration in 2008.
Today, it’s where the bulk of the action is going to be for the many times larger funding for broadband access passed last year by Congress. There are many ways such funding can end up supporting the powers that be in telecommunications, so expectations should be tempered about reaching the “affordable and available to all” goal. This article below from Axios talks about the new NTIA Director Alan Davidson, who will be making important decisions on how the funding is applied, and regulations that are promulgated.
's new power player on broadband and Big Tech - Axios