The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is a bureau in the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The NTIA frequently works with other executive branch agencies to develop and present the Administration's position on key policy matters. It represents the executive branch in both domestic and international telecommunications and information policy activities. Policy areas in which the NTIA acts as the representative of the Administration include international negotiations regarding global agreements on the Internet and spectrum management, and domestic use of spectrum resources by federal agencies. In recent years, one of the responsibilities of the NTIA has been to oversee the transfer of some radio frequencies from the federal domain to the commercial domain. Many of these frequencies have subsequently been auctioned to the commercial sector and the proceeds paid into the U.S. Treasury. In 2013, the NTIA focused on "supporting the innovation economy of the future—one that produces new and better jobs and positions the United States to remain competitive in the 21 st century." Notable programs to contribute this goal included promoting the deployment of broadband infrastructure, advocating a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet policymaking, and supporting the push to make more spectrum available for wireless technologies. As part of President Obama's Wireless Initiative, the NTIA is charged with identifying electromagnetic spectrum that might be transferred from the federal sector to commercial wireless use. This spectrum might be auctioned as licenses for exclusive commercial use, made available for sharing between federal and commercial users, or repurposed in some other way that meets the stated goal of the Wireless Initiative to add 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband. Congress also has required the NTIA to take actions to release spectrum from federal to commercial use and to ensure the efficient use of federal spectrum. The NTIA administers some grants programs created by Congress, including the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). BTOP grant programs are in the final stages of completion. As required by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( P.L. 112-96 ), the NTIA is commencing a $135 million grant program to help states plan for participation in a new, nationwide public safety broadband network. To deploy the new network, the act established the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, as an independent authority within the NTIA and assigned to the agency various responsibilities to support FirstNet. FirstNet is funded through the Public Safety Trust Fund, established by Congress to receive revenues from auctions of certain spectrum licenses. FirstNet has access to an advance of nearly $2 billion from the U.S. Treasury against expected proceeds of sales of spectrum licenses. Another $5 billion in funding is expected from the Public Safety Trust Fund as auction revenues are deposited in the account. The President's budget request for the NTIA for FY2014 was $52.1 million for salaries and expenses. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, provided $45.1 million for salaries and expenses for FY2013; no funding was appropriated for separate programs. In FY2010, the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) represented half of the NTIA's budget appropriations. In FY2011, the total enacted budget appropriations amount for the NTIA increased by 4% to $41.6 million; funding for the PTFP was transferred to administrative expenses and salaries. According to the NTIA, the initial increase of $21.6 million from FY2010 to FY2011 in funding for salaries and expenses was largely attributable to the costs of administration of a $4.7 billion program for broadband deployment, as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ( P.L. 111-5 ). In FY2012 requests for funding to administer grant programs totaled $32.3 million, 70% of the fiscal year budget request. For FY2013, $25.8 million in funding was designated to administer the remaining broadband grant programs, primarily BTOP. The FY2014 request for broadband grant program oversight was for $24.7 million, roughly 40% of the total budget request. The NTIA also receives funding from sources such as fees charged to federal agencies for spectrum management services. Reimbursable funding for FY2014 is estimated at $37.5 million, of which spectrum management fees from federal agencies are projected to be $28.9 million; these fees were estimated at $28.7 million for FY2013. The balance is attributable to reimbursable projects in telecommunications technology research. The FY2014 budget request includes $7.5 million and staff increases of eight FTEs for a new program to develop a spectrum monitoring system and assess technologies for sharing radio frequency spectrum. The program would encompass pilot projects over a period of two years in ten major metropolitan areas. Both Congress and the Administration have required the NTIA to take new actions in identifying and releasing additional radio frequency spectrum for wireless broadband use. To meet these obligations, funding of $1.25 million and five FTEs are requested for the Office of Spectrum Management for Wireless Broadband Access, a new line item. Increases in staffing for some programs are offset in part by a reduction of four FTEs to administer broadband programs, and a reduction of 7 FTEs at the Institute of Telecommunication Sciences (ITS). Total FTEs for both directly funded and reimbursable programs is estimated at 309 FTEs, compared to 302 FTEs for FY2013 (under the Continuing Resolution) and 257 FTEs in FY2012. The NTIA fulfills many responsibilities for different constituencies. As the agency responsible for managing spectrum used by federal agencies, the NTIA often works in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on matters concerning spectrum access, technology, and policy. The FCC regulates private sector, state, local, and tribal spectrum use. Because many spectrum issues are international in scope and negotiated through treaty-making, the NTIA and the FCC collaborate with the Department of State in representing American interests. The NTIA also participates in interagency efforts to develop Internet policy. The NTIA and the National Institute of Standards (NIST) have adjoining facilities on the Department of Commerce campus in Boulder, CO, where they collaborate on research projects with each other and with other federal agencies, such as the FCC. The NTIA worked with the Rural Utilities Service in coordinating grants made through BTOP. The NTIA collaborates with NIST, the FCC, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in providing expertise and guidance to grant recipients using BTOP funds to build new wireless networks for broadband communications. As described by the NTIA, its policies and programs are administered through The Office of Spectrum Management (OSM), which formulates and establishes plans and policies that ensure the effective, efficient, and equitable use of the spectrum both nationally and internationally. Through the development of long range spectrum plans, the OSM works to address future federal government spectrum requirements, including public safety operations and the coordination and registration of federal government satellite networks. The OSM also handles the frequency assignment needs of the federal agencies and provides spectrum certification for new federal agency radio communication systems. The Office of Policy Analysis and Development (OPAD), which is the domestic policy division of the NTIA. OPAD supports the NTIA's role as principal adviser to the executive branch and the Secretary of Commerce on telecommunications and information policies by conducting research and analysis and preparing policy recommendations. The Office of International Affairs (OIA), which develops and implements policies to enhance U.S. companies' ability to compete globally in the information technology and communications (ICT) sectors. In consultation with other U.S. agencies and the U.S. private sector, OIA participates in international and regional fora to promote policies that open ICT markets and encourage competition. The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which is the research and engineering laboratory of the NTIA. ITS provides technical support to the NTIA in advancing telecommunications and information infrastructure development, enhancing domestic competition, improving U.S. telecommunications trade opportunities, and promoting more efficient and effective use of the radio spectrum. The Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications (OTIA), which administers grant programs that further the deployment and use of technology in America, and the advancement of other national priorities. In the past, the OTIA has awarded grants from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program, which was terminated by Congress in FY2011. The program supported new construction for public broadcasting stations and other organizations. The Office of Public Safety Communications, which was created by the NTIA at the end of 2012 to administer some provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Title VI, also known as the Spectrum Act. For budget purposes, the category of salaries and expenses is organized into four sub-activities: Domestic and International Policies; Spectrum Management; Telecommunication Sciences Research; and Broadband Programs. Effective FY2011, Congress terminated grant funding for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP). In FY2010, the program received $20 million in funding to support broadcast and non-broadcast projects. Approximately half of the grant monies went to public radio and television stations to replace equipment. Another 25% of grant funds were awarded to bring radio and television services to unserved or underserved communities. Other awards included grants to 16 public television and radio stations to cover costs of converting from analog to digital broadcasting. These grants helped the Public Broadcasting Service to maintain and improve its critical rolein the current Emergency Alert system (EAS) and new initiatives for Wireless Emergency Alerts (also known as commercial mobile alerts). For example, the satellite communications network that supports EAS is operated by the National Public Radio, public television stations provide back-up for Wireless Emergency Alerts to mobile devices, and public television and radio stations provide emergency alerts and information to otherwise unserved communities. The most recent legislative action to provide more spectrum for commercial services was included in provisions of Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( P.L. 112-96 ).