Sponsors (2)
The bill creates a new NTIA office to expand rural broadband, improve network security, and accelerate tech commercialization, at the trade‑off of potential industry‑tilted policymaking, centralized federal influence, privacy risks from published data, and added taxpayer costs.
Rural residents and small/rural broadband providers gain a dedicated NTIA office to develop policies and programs advancing broadband access, digital inclusion, and consumer access.
Internet users, small businesses, and tech firms receive stronger network security and supply‑chain protections aimed at reducing outages and cyber incidents.
Researchers, startups, and innovators obtain public data, technical assistance, and coordination intended to accelerate commercialization and improve access to capital.
Consumers and small businesses may face industry‑friendly recommendations if the office's market‑oriented policy mandate biases guidance away from stronger regulatory protections.
Federal employees and state governments could see policy influence concentrate in NTIA if its advocacy roles before the FCC and Congress shift outcomes based on leadership priorities.
Consumers face privacy risks from the collection and publication of data on how people access digital services if robust protections are not implemented.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity inside the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and establishes an Associate Administrator to lead policy and cybersecurity work for communications and internet technologies. The office will develop market-based policy recommendations, run studies on how people access and use communications services, coordinate multistakeholder cybersecurity and privacy guidance, promote collaboration between security researchers and providers, support secure supply chains, and advise NTIA leadership on cybersecurity matters. The bill redesignates the current Associate Administrator for Policy Analysis and Development as the new Associate Administrator for Policy Development and Cybersecurity so the incumbent immediately assumes the new title upon enactment. It does not create explicit new appropriations or set an overall effective date beyond the immediate redesignation of the current incumbent.
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Jay Obernolte · Last progress July 15, 2025