NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2025
Click any stage to learn more about the legislative process.
Would reauthorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through FY2026 and elevate its top leadership from the Assistant Secretary level to Under Secretary of Commerce, while providing statutory footing for two existing internal offices focused on spectrum management and international affairs.
The bill would also streamline NTIA's congressional reporting obligations by repealing outdated requirements and consolidating several remaining ones into a single annual report, and would extend an Inspector General audit of a broadband equity pilot program.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would reauthorize the NTIA — the executive branch's primary telecommunications and internet policy agency — by updating its funding authorization to $57 million for each of FY2025 and FY2026. It would rename and elevate the agency's top post from Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and create a statutory Deputy Under Secretary role. Those title changes would be carried through dozens of existing statutes by conforming amendments. The bill would also give formal statutory authority to two offices that already exist within NTIA: the Office of Spectrum Management (overseeing federal radio-frequency assignments and coordination) and the Office of International Affairs (handling international telecommunications and information policy).
On reporting, the bill would repeal several outdated or completed reporting obligations, consolidate several remaining requirements into one annual report published each first quarter, and extend an Inspector General audit of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program through FY2024. Existing civil actions involving the Assistant Secretary title would continue uninterrupted, with the Under Secretary automatically substituted as a party.
Key provisions
- 1Would reauthorize NTIA and update its funding authorization to $57 million for each of FY2025 and FY2026, replacing figures set for FY1992 and FY1993.
- 2Would rename and elevate the head of NTIA from Assistant Secretary to Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, with conforming title changes across dozens of federal statutes.
- 3Would establish a statutory Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to serve as principal policy advisor and acting head in the Under Secretary's absence.
- 4Would codify the Office of Spectrum Management within NTIA, assigning it duties over federal frequency allocations, the National Table of Frequency Allocations process, and spectrum policy guidance to federal agencies.
- 5Would codify the Office of International Affairs within NTIA, assigning it duties over international telecommunications and information policy, including coordination with the State Department and representation before international bodies.
- 6Would repeal several outdated or completed NTIA reporting requirements and consolidate remaining ones into a single annual report submitted to Congress each first quarter.
- 7Would extend the Department of Commerce Inspector General's obligation to audit the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program through FY2024.
Who would be affected
The NTIA itself and its leadership are most directly affected — the incumbent Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary would automatically carry over into the elevated Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary titles. Federal agencies that coordinate with NTIA on spectrum use, the Federal Communications Commission, and entities that interact with NTIA's international affairs work (including U.S. delegations to bodies like the International Telecommunication Union) would also be touched by the reorganization.
Why it matters
Elevating NTIA's head to Under Secretary raises the agency's formal rank in the executive branch, potentially strengthening its voice in interagency telecommunications disputes and policy coordination. Giving statutory authority to the spectrum and international offices clarifies their legal footing and responsibilities. Consolidating reporting requirements reduces duplicative congressional submissions while preserving oversight through a single annual report.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (Sec. 101)
Updates funding authorization, elevates leadership titles, codifies two internal offices, repeals outdated reporting sections, and adds executive-branch coordination duties.
Amends American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Sec. 102(a)(1))
Removes the BTOP quarterly reporting requirement and updates 'Assistant Secretary' title references to 'Under Secretary'.
Amends William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Sec. 102(a)(3))
Restructures the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund reporting requirement into a single annual report format.
Amends Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Sec. 102(c))
Extends Inspector General audit of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program through FY2024 and updates leadership title references.
Amends Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Sec. 101(d)(16))
Updates 'Assistant Secretary' title references to 'Under Secretary' and adjusts timing of digital equity grant reporting requirements.
Amends Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015 (Sec. 101(d)(8))
Updates 'Assistant Secretary' references to 'Under Secretary' throughout.
Amends Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Sec. 101(d)(13))
Updates 'Assistant Secretary' references to 'Under Secretary' throughout.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Pay rate adjustment for the new Under Secretary position
- Consolidated annual reporting requirement begins
Funding and costs
- $57,000,000
NTIA operations and activities
- $57,000,000
NTIA operations and activities
How implementation would work
The title change from Assistant Secretary to Under Secretary takes effect on enactment, with pay rates adjusting at the start of the first pay period after enactment. The incumbent may continue serving without renomination. Conforming amendments sweep through roughly 15 existing statutes to update the title. The two newly codified offices — Spectrum Management and International Affairs — would be headed by Associate Administrators reporting to the Under Secretary. The consolidated annual report must be published on NTIA's website and submitted to the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Commerce committees in the first quarter of each calendar year, beginning January 1 of the first full calendar year after enactment.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill reauthorizes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through FY2026 and makes certain changes to its leadership structure.
Specifically, the bill promotes the head of the NTIA, currently the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to the role of Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. The bill also promotes the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
Further, the bill provides statutory authority for two existing offices within NTIA—the Office of Spectrum Management and the Office of International Affairs.
The bill also repeals certain outdated or expired NTIA reporting requirements and consolidates certain remaining reporting requirements into one annual report to Congress.
Finally, the bill extends the obligation of the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Commerce to audit the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program through FY2024.
Legislative subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures; Civil actions and liability; Congressional oversight; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Government information and archives; Government studies and investigations; Intergovernmental relations; Radio spectrum allocation; Science, Technology, Communications; Spacecraft and satellites; Telephone and wireless communication
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-63