Referred in Senate — H.R. 2482

IIB

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2482

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 29, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

AN ACT

To reauthorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title; table of contents

(a) Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Reauthorization Act of 2025 or the NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2025.

(b) Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 2. Definitions

In this Act:

(1) Commission

The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission.

(2) NTIA

The term NTIA means the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

(3) Under Secretary

The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

Title I Reauthorization

Sec. 101. Reauthorization of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act

(a) Authorization of appropriations

Section 151 of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act is amended by striking $17,600,000 for fiscal year 1992 and $17,900,000 for fiscal year 1993 and inserting $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.

(b) Under secretary of commerce for communications and information

(1) Under Secretary; Deputy Under Secretary

(A) Under Secretary

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq) is amended by striking Assistant Secretary each place it appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(B) Deputy under secretary

Section 103(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 902(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3) Deputy under secretary
The Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information shall—
(A)
be the principal policy advisor of the Under Secretary;
(B)
perform such other functions as the Under Secretary shall from time to time assign or delegate; and
(C)
act as Under Secretary during the absence or disability of the Under Secretary or in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Under Secretary.

(2) Continuation of civil actions

This subsection, and the amendments made by this subsection, shall not abate any civil action commenced by or against the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information before the date of the enactment of this Act, except that the Under Secretary shall be substituted as a party to the action on and after such date.

(3) Continuation in office

The individual serving as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the individual serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act may serve as the Under Secretary and the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, respectively, on and after that date without the need for renomination or reappointment.

(4) References

Any reference in a law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information shall, on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, be deemed to be a reference to the Under Secretary.

(5) Executive schedule

(A) In general

Subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(i)

in section 5314, by adding at the end the following:

Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

; and

(ii)

in section 5315, in the item relating to the Assistant Secretaries of Commerce, by striking (11) and inserting (10).

(B) Effective date

The amendment made by subparagraph (A) (establishing the annual rate of the basic pay of the Under Secretary) shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Authorities and responsibilities

(1) Coordination of executive branch views on matters before the federal communications commission

Section 105(a)(1) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 904(a)(1)) is amended—

(A)

by striking to ensure that the conduct and inserting the following:

to ensure that—
(A)
the conduct;

(B)

in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)
the views of the executive branch on matters presented to the Commission are, consistent with section 103(b)(2)(J)—
(i)
appropriately coordinated; and
(ii)
reflective of executive branch policy.

(2) Assigned functions

Section 103(b)(2) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 902(b)(2)) is amended—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting , some of which were before transferred to the Secretary; and

(B)

in subparagraph (M), by inserting , publish reports, after studies.

(3) Rule of construction

Nothing in the amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) may be construed to expand or contract the authority of the Commission.

(d) Technical and conforming amendments

(1) Public Telecommunications Financing Act of 1978

Section 106(c) of the Public Telecommunications Financing Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 5316 note; Public Law 95–567) is amended by striking The position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, established in Department of Commerce Organization Order Numbered 10–10 (effective March 26, 1978), and inserting The position of Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, established under section 103(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 902(a)),.

(2) Communications act of 1934

Section 344(d)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 344(d)(2)) is amended by striking Assistant Secretary and inserting Under Secretary.

(3) Homeland security act of 2002

Section 1805(d)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 575(d)(2)) is amended by striking Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and inserting Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

(4) Agriculture improvement act of 2018

Section 6212 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 950bb–6) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (d)(1), in the heading, by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(B)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(5) Title 17, united states code

Section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, is amended by striking Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and inserting Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

(6) Unlocking consumer choice and wireless competition act

Section 2(b) of the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act (17 U.S.C. 1201 note; Public Law 113–144) is amended by striking Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and inserting Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

(7) Communications satellite act of 1962

Section 625(a)(1) of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 (47 U.S.C. 763d(a)(1)) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Assistant Secretary and inserting Under Secretary of Commerce.

(8) Spectrum pipeline act of 2015

The Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015 (47 U.S.C. 921 note; title X of Public Law 114–74) is amended—

(A)

in section 1002(1), in the heading, by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(B)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(9) Warning, alert, and response network act

Section 606 of the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act (47 U.S.C. 1205) is amended—

(A)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary; and

(B)

in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking for7Communications and inserting for Communications.

(10) American recovery and reinvestment act of 2009

Section 6001 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (47 U.S.C. 1305) is amended by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(11) Middle class tax relief and job creation act of 2012

Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) is amended—

(A)

in section 6001 (47 U.S.C. 1401)—

(i)

by striking paragraph (4);

(ii)

by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (32) as paragraphs (4) through (31), respectively; and

(iii)

by inserting after paragraph (31), as so redesignated, the following:

(32) Under secretary
The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.; and

(B)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(12) Ray Baum’s act of 2018

The RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018 (division P of Public Law 115–141; 132 Stat. 348) is amended by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(13) Secure and trusted communications networks act of 2019

Section 8 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1607) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (c)(1), in the heading, by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(B)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(14) Title 51, united states code

Section 50112(3) of title 51, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(15) Consolidated Appropriations act, 2021

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is amended—

(A)

in title IX of division N—

(i)

in section 902(a)(2), in the heading, by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary;

(ii)

in section 905—

(I)

in subsection (a)(1), in the heading, by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary;

(II)

in subsection (c)(3)(B), in the heading, by striking assistant secretary and inserting under secretary; and

(III)

in subsection (d)(2)(B), in the heading, by striking assistant secretary and inserting under secretary; and

(iii)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears (except the place such term appears in section 905(a)(13)(E)) and inserting Under Secretary; and

(B)

in title IX of division FF—

(i)

in section 903(g)(2), in the heading, by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(ii)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary.

(16) Infrastructure investment and jobs act

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) is amended—

(A)

in section 27003, by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary;

(B)

in division F—

(i)

in section 60102—

(I)

in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary;

(II)

in subsection (d)(1), by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(III)

in subsection (h)—

(aa)

in paragraph (1)(B), by striking assistant secretary and inserting under secretary; and

(bb)

in paragraph (5)(B)(iii), by striking assistant secretary and inserting under secretary;

(ii)

in title III—

(I)

in section 60302(5), by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(II)

in section 60305(d)(2)(B)(ii), by striking assistant secretary and inserting under secretary;

(iii)

in section 60401(a)(2), by striking Assistant secretary and inserting Under secretary; and

(iv)

by striking Assistant Secretary each place the term appears and inserting Under Secretary; and

(C)

in division J, in title I, in the matter under the heading distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program under the heading Rural Utilities Service under the heading RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, by striking Assistant Secretary and inserting Under Secretary.

Sec. 102. NTIA Consolidated Reporting Act

(a) Elimination of certain outdated or completed reporting requirements

(1) BTOP quarterly report

Section 6001(d) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (47 U.S.C. 1305(d)) is amended—

(A)

in paragraph (2), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting ; and;

(B)

in paragraph (3), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and

(C)

by striking paragraph (4).

(2) Certain reports required by National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act

Sections 154, 155, and 156 of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act are repealed.

(3) Initial report required by section 9202(a)(1)(G) of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2021

Section 9202(a)(1)(G) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (47 U.S.C. 906(a)(1)(G)) is amended—

(A)

in clause (ii), by redesignating subclauses (I), (II), and (III) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively, and conforming the margins of such clauses accordingly; and

(B)

by striking Reports to Congress and all that follows through For each fiscal year and inserting Annual report to Congress.—For each fiscal year.

(4) Report to President

Section 105(a) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 904(a)) is amended—

(A)

by striking paragraph (2); and

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).

(5) Effect on authority

Nothing in this subsection or the amendments made by this subsection may be construed to expand or contract the authority of the Secretary, the Under Secretary, the NTIA, or the Commission.

(6) Other reports

Nothing in this subsection or the amendments made by this subsection may be construed to prohibit or otherwise prevent the Secretary, the Under Secretary, the NTIA, or the Commission from producing any additional reports otherwise within the authority of the Secretary, the Under Secretary, the NTIA, or the Commission, respectively.

(b) Consolidated annual report

(1) In general

In the first quarter of each calendar year, the Under Secretary shall publish on the website of the NTIA and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that contains the reports described in paragraph (2) for the fiscal year ending most recently before the beginning of such quarter.

(2) Reports described

The reports described in this paragraph are the following:

(A)

The report required by section 903(c)(2)(C) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1307(c)(2)(C)).

(B)

If amounts in the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund established by section 9202(a)(1)(A)(i) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (47 U.S.C. 906(a)(1)(A)(i)) were available for the fiscal year described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the report required by section 9202(a)(1)(G) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 906(a)(1)(G)).

(C)

If the Under Secretary awarded grants under section 60304(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1723(d)(1)) in the fiscal year described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the report required by section 60306(a)(1)(A) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 1725(a)(1)(A)).

(3) Timing of underlying reporting requirements

(A) Report of Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth

Section 903(c)(2)(C) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1307(c)(2)(C)) is amended—

(i)

in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(I)

by striking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, and inserting In the first quarter of each calendar year,; and

(II)

by inserting , for the fiscal year ending most recently before the beginning of such quarter, after a report; and

(ii)

in clause (i), by striking for the previous year.

(B) Report on digital equity grant programs

Section 60306(a)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1725(a)(1)) is amended—

(i)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Not later than 1 year and all that follows through shall— and inserting the following: For the first fiscal year in which the Under Secretary awards grants under section 60304(d)(1), and each fiscal year thereafter in which the Under Secretary awards grants under such section, the Under Secretary shall—; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

by inserting in the first quarter of the first calendar year that begins after the end of such fiscal year, before submit; and

(II)

by striking , for the year covered by the report.

(4) Satisfaction of underlying reporting requirements

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the publication and submission of a report as required by paragraph (1) in the first quarter of a calendar year shall be treated as satisfying any requirement to publish or otherwise make publicly available or to submit to Congress or to a committee of Congress a report described in paragraph (2) for the fiscal year ending most recently before the beginning of such quarter.

(B) Certain submission requirements

At the time when the Under Secretary submits a report required by paragraph (1) to the committees described in such paragraph, the Under Secretary shall submit any portion of such report that relates to a report described in paragraph (2)(C) to each committee of Congress not described in paragraph (1) to which such report would (without regard to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) be required to be submitted.

(5) Applicability

Paragraph (1), and the amendments made by paragraph (3), shall apply beginning on January 1 of the first calendar year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Extension of certain audit and reporting requirements

Section 902(c)(4)(A) of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1306(c)(4)(A)) is amended by striking fiscal years 2021 and 2022 and inserting fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

(d) Definition

In this section, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.

Title II Office of Spectrum Management

Sec. 201. Office of Spectrum Management

Part A of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

106. Office of Spectrum Management
(a) Establishment
There is established within the NTIA an Office of Spectrum Management (in this section referred to as the Office).
(b) Head of office
(1) In general
The head of the Office shall be an Associate Administrator for Spectrum Management (in this section referred to as the Associate Administrator).
(2) Requirement to report
The Associate Administrator shall report to the Under Secretary (or a designee of the Under Secretary).
(c) Duties
The Associate Administrator shall, at the direction of the Under Secretary—
(1)
carry out responsibilities under section 103(b)(2)(A) (relating to frequency assignments for radio stations belonging to and operated by the United States), make frequency allocations for frequencies that will be used by such stations, and develop and maintain techniques, databases, measurements, files, and procedures necessary for such allocations;
(2)
carry out responsibilities under section 103(b)(2)(K) (relating to establishing policies concerning spectrum assignments and use by radio stations belonging to and operated by the United States) and provide Federal agencies with guidance to ensure that the conduct of telecommunications activities by such agencies is consistent with such policies;
(3)
represent the interests of Federal agencies in the process through which the Commission and the NTIA jointly determine the National Table of Frequency Allocations, and coordinate with the Commission in the development of a comprehensive long-range plan for improved management of all electromagnetic spectrum resources;
(4)
appoint the chairpersons of and provide secretariat functions for the Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee;
(5)
carry out responsibilities under section 103(b)(2)(B) (relating to authorizing a foreign government to construct and operate a radio station at the seat of Government of the United States) and assign frequencies for use by such stations;
(6)
provide advice and assistance to the Under Secretary and coordinate with the Associate Administrator for International Affairs in carrying out spectrum management aspects of the international policy responsibilities of the NTIA, including spectrum-related responsibilities under section 103(b)(2)(G);
(7)
carry out spectrum-related responsibilities under section 103(b)(2)(H) (relating to coordination of the telecommunications activities of the executive branch and assistance in the formulation of policies and standards for such activities);
(8)
carry out spectrum-related responsibilities under section 103(b)(2)(Q) (relating to certain activities with respect to telecommunications resources); and
(9)
carry out any other duties of the NTIA with respect to spectrum policy that the Under Secretary may designate.

Title III Office of International Affairs

Sec. 301. Office of International Affairs

Part A of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

107. Office of International Affairs
(a) Establishment
There is established within the NTIA an Office of International Affairs (in this section referred to as the Office).
(b) Head of office
(1) In general
The head of the Office shall be an Associate Administrator for International Affairs (in this section referred to as the Associate Administrator).
(2) Requirement to report
The Associate Administrator shall report to the Under Secretary (or a designee of the Under Secretary).
(c) Duties
The Associate Administrator shall, at the direction of the Under Secretary—
(1)
in coordination with the Secretary of State, conduct analysis of, review, and formulate international telecommunications and information policy;
(2)
present on international telecommunications and information policy—
(A)
before the Commission, Congress, and others; and
(B)
in coordination with the Secretary of State, before international telecommunications bodies, including the International Telecommunication Union;
(3)
conduct or obtain analysis on economic and other aspects of international telecommunications and information policy;
(4)
formulate, and recommend to the Under Secretary, polices and plans with respect to preparation for and participation in international telecommunications and information policy activities;
(5)
in coordination with the Secretary of State, coordinate NTIA and interdepartmental economic, technical, operational, and other preparations related to participation by the United States in international telecommunications and information policy conferences and negotiations;
(6)
ensure NTIA representation with respect to international telecommunications and information policy meetings and the activities related to preparation for such meetings;
(7)
in coordination with the Secretary of State, coordinate with Federal agencies and private organizations engaged in activities involving international telecommunications and information policy matters and maintain cognizance of the activities of United States signatories with respect to related treaties, agreements, and other instruments;
(8)
provide advice and assistance related to international telecommunications and information policy to other Federal agencies charged with responsibility for international negotiations, to strengthen the position and serve the best interests of the United States in the conduct of negotiations with foreign nations;
(9)
provide advice and assistance to the Under Secretary with respect to evaluating the international impact of matters pending before the Commission, other Federal agencies, and Congress;
(10)
carry out, at the request of the Secretary, the responsibilities of the Secretary under the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 (47 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and other Federal laws related to international telecommunications and information policy; and
(11)
carry out any other duties of the NTIA with respect to international telecommunications and information policy that the Under Secretary may designate.