roundtable: NTIA Update

roundtable: NTIA Update

NTIA Update

DGARDNER@ntia.doc.gov
Tue, 25 Jul 1995 16:52:31 -0400 

Message-Id: <s015215d.068@ntia.doc.gov>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 1995 16:52:31 -0400
From: DGARDNER@ntia.doc.gov
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject:  NTIA Update


NTIA Update

Room 4892, HCH Building, Washington, DC  20230; Voice 202.482.1835,
Fax 202.482.0979, E-mail: dgardner@ntia.doc.gov

Tuesday, July25                  A summary of NTIA and NII events and news

NTIA Speaks...

Larry Irving	July 25
Speaks at NARUC's Summer Meeting
(San Francisco, CA)

Larry Irving	July 27
Participates in roundtable with KY. CEOs at Partnerships for a
Competitive Economy Conf.
(Washington, DC)

Larry Irving	Aug. 8
Will participate in the NII Advisory Council meeting.
(Seattle, WA)



Event Schedule

IITF Telecommunications Policy Committee Meeting, Washington, DC, July
27 at 2:45-4pm in Rm 1412 in the Commerce Bldg. at 14th and Penn.
Streets.  This open meeting will address advertising issues in the
Information Age.   Call Tatia Williams at 202/482-0516
 
NTIA and the FCC will host a public roundtable discussion on the Public
Safety Wireless Advisory Council to be held Friday, July 28 at the FCC
meeting room at 1919 M St., NW.   For more information, contact Don
Speights at 202/482-1850.

 

Quotable...

People 55 years and older are least likely to own a computer, the (NTIA)
survey found.  But, surprisingly, they were closely followed by
households headed by people age 25 and younger.

The Washington Post, Page C1, July 25, 1995 by Mike Mills
  


NTIA On-Line

NTIA's on-line resources include: dial-up access: 202. 482.1199 at
speeds up to 14,400 baud.  Internet access points:
http://www.ntia.doc.gov,
ftp.ntia.doc.gov, and  gopher.ntia.doc. gov.


NTIA Report Reveals Gaps in Universal Service

Assistant Secretary Larry Irving released today a comprehensive
universal service report, Falling Through the Net, that chronicles pockets
of underserved Americans in rural and inner-city urban areas.  In
particular, the report indicates that those in the inner-cities of the
Northeast have the lowest percentage of telephone subscribership in the
nation.  In addition, the study found that the rural poor are the least 
likely to own computers or modems and that Black households in inner cities
rank at the bottom in computer ownership among all racial groups.  The
report is based on a survey of 54,000 households nationwide that were
grouped by race, age, education level, income and region.  "Falling
Through The Net underscores the importance of the Clinton
Administration's goal to assure that all Americans have access to the
National Information Infrastructure," said Irving.  The report is available
via the Internet (look in bottom left corner for instructions).  For a 
copy of the report, please call 202/482-3999.


Brown, Irving Testify Before House Commerce Subcommittees on DOC
Dismantling Act

Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and Assistant Commerce
Secretary Larry Irving testified yesterday before a joint hearing of two
House Commerce subcommittees.  Brown and Irving commented on H.R.
1756, the Commerce Dismantling Act of 1995 sponsored by Rep.
Chrysler.  "Today's Commerce Department works to create jobs and
enhance economic opportunity for the American people.  Commerce
works to represent American business interests at the highest level of
government, including at the Cabinet table," said Brown.   Irving's
testimony focused on the importance of the Commerce Department and
NTIA.  "As the President's adviser on domestic and international
telecommunications issues, NTIA uses its technical and policy expertise
to ensure that the public benefits from any changes in
telecommunications policies and laws. NTIA is currently working to
ensure that all Americans benefit from advanced technologies and that
no one is left out of the Information Age," said Irving.  For more
information on the Commerce Department or NTIA, contact David Gardner
at 202/482-1835.


House Vote on Commerce Appropriations Expected

Tomorrow, the full House is expected to consider FY 1996 Commerce,
Justice, State and the Judiciary Appropriations Bill.  As reported out of
the Appropriations Committee, the bill includes a $700 million cut for the
Commerce Department below the FY 1995 level.  In particular, the bill
recommends for FY 1996 an NTIA budget of $78.7 million, a decrease of
$22.7 million from the FY 1995 level and $54.6 million less than the
Administration budget request for FY 1996.  During floor consideration of
the appropriations bill Rep. Mark Neumann may offer an amendment that
would cut funding for NTIA and eliminate the Public Telecommunications
Facilities Program (PTFP) and the Telecommunications and Information
Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) for FY 1996.  For more
information on the NTIA budget, please contact David Gardner at
202/482-1835.


NTIA Files Comments on Prime Time Access Rule

In a filing with the FCC last Thursday, NTIA proposed elimination of the
Prime Time Access Rule (PTAR) that currently prohibits network affiliates
in the 50 largest markets from programming more than three hours of
network programs during the four hours of prime-time.  NTIA's letter
recommends PTAR elimination in five years, following a review of
various impending structural changes in the video programming
marketplace.  The FCC is planning to address PTAR at its meeting this
Friday.  For more information, contact the Office of Chief Counsel at
202/482-1816.


David Gardner
<dgardner@ntia.doc.gov>

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