[inaudible conversations] clicks thank you very much. The subcommittee will reconvene in. In the sixth district for five minutes. Clicks im going to write down the questions. Doing a great job leading to do a lot of stuff. I will save the flowering go to questions. I want to start with broadbent equity excess the program. And michigan almost 500,000 households are underserved are unserved or underserved by highspeed internet infrastructure another seven or 33 households face excess broadband. Approximately 30 of households do not have affordable reliable highspeed Internet Connections that meets their needs. And every family across our state to get access to highspeed internet. As of november 23, alls states and territories have released their action plan and initial proposal. Can you update the committee as to how ntia plans to continue to work with each state and territory in the process . Whats up silly. First of all would only succeed in connecting up every state is a territory. And so from the beginning we have making sure we are supporting states and territories the work they are doing. The biggest thing we have done or continue to do we have people on the ground in the field, federal Program Officers work with each day. Whats up every day thinking how do i make sure michigan is succeeding in this program that theres somebody in every state doing that. And also that the state knows who they can come too. Ask next time you are here im going to ask who is really doing it who is not getting there. On october 2023 read a letter with my colleague or congressman koger to reconsider letter of credit requirement. Find alternatives to those smaller broadband providers to compete for these funds i was pleased to see ntia briefly took action adjusting credit requirements to allow for programmatic waiver. Can you tell us how the letter of credit adjustment leads to more participation among broadband providers . Absolutely think of your leadership on this. Were trying to do two things here. Make sure building a program we are being good stewards accountability people are building can step up and do the work. What we learn as letters like the one you sent makes it clear to us with the requirement we ritually had was too expensive, it was going to keep people off the playing field. But we have done is make an adjustment that makes a possible to have other ways for that requirement. Give us confidence the providera lot of money we need to make sure they could do the work. But it is going to something that is cheaper and we know more people will be able to participate. Thank you for your leadership on this. No, thank you. Im acutely aware of the importance of making additional spectrum bands available for commercial use. I was therefore please present by the recently released a memorandum modernizing spectrum policy and youth the National Spectrum strategy. Its a key component to advancing piety in this country ensuring we do not fall behind japan and south korea. Can you tell us how ntia will set up the goals set out in the presence memorandum and the spectrum strategy to make sure their adequate resources for various Industry Sectors in these cases . It something you know i care deeply about. Absolutely and is so critical you have said it so well its competing well on the global stage. We can only do that by making to permitting the spectra from the private sector the biggest thing we were instructed to do is make sure for the study together the president ial memo from the white house we are going to study over 2700 megahertz of the spectrum thats going to make a huge difference but the big quercus executing the studies. Making sure or putting spectrum into the pipeline we have for the next several years where we are going that helps industry that helps us with our strategy is perfect think it mr. Trent im almost out of time so going to reaffirm the question on the importance of the affordability program. We are delighted to follow up with you about that. There are over 8000 people in michigan who rely on it too. Thank you i yield back mr. Chairman good. Thank you very much for gentle it is time has expired the chair recognize a gentle lady from tennessee for five minutes but. Think it mr. Chairman think it mr. Davidson for being here. Can you share insight into the pass report whether you and secretary were mondo agreed with the dot assertion that cant cap makethe lower at three gigaz band available for commercial use please sir . Ex from what i have seen of the study we agreed the technical conclusions about the difficulty of sharing right now. Theres a big line under right now. With dod said under current circumstances its very hard to share. But we are not ready to give up on this band because it is so valuable and thus the work we have ahead of us. Were there any conditions or limitations under which non federal access could be permitted . The dod did put together a set of ideas about what would make sharing possible. Different conditions. And that is door at number one which is to say how could he follow the recommendations in their and try to create a situation we could do sharing. The number door to for us what butthey did not address is if we spent some money and moved one of the systems that exist right there in that band, could be free of spectrum for nonfederal uses . Those are the two things were westill do study. How much spectrum does the military controller the dod . Updates of question to answer it when thats better answered in a different setting. I would just say they are the largest federal spectrum user. And for good reason its very important were fighting mission paybacks absolutely. When could you do it in a classified setting . To be happy to follow up with the progress give me date i will be there. Its one public done better with dod. As a separate forward very committed to the lower three gigahertz study into the committees hand in the right setting as soon as we can. And we are talking days not weeks or months. Its mentioned there were reports of overbuilding in the broadband Fiber Community taking place and if that is the case, with that require more funding because you still have got those places that havent got broadband buildout . You are absolutely right. We are eager to avoid any kind of duplication of services. We know the only way were going to be able to meet this mission is if we use the money smartly. Congress is very clear in the statute and in our view the bipartisan structure law makes it very clear how were supposed we aresupposed to make the monen underserved communities and states of our flexibility will say lets focus on that part. You stated going to more efficient and how we set spectrum give me the example are some examples please . Part of it is making sure there are things we can do with technology. There are possibilities for sharing. Sometimes you spectrum the navy is that for raters on the coast. The spectrum is pretty available could we be lets allow commercial nonfederal users those are the kind of things we are constantly looking for which is to say could be be more efficient the places, the technology we are using and that is a kind of stuff are looking at pick up the kite you mention two or three trusted Network Providers, who are they . People in the industry understand for example Companies Like ericsson, nokia, are major providers of Network Services and they do it in a way thats far more trustworthy than the chinese providers. Like what steps are taken to improve the coordination of management of federal spectrum . We are doing a huge amount. [laughter] and i think coordination is critical. Sometimes it can sound a little boring but its really, really important to make sure all the federal agencies are working together we have processes in place to make sure we are being efficient as were just discussing. We have working groups to get together regularly. We have working groups with the private sector to ensure overhang from the private sector about what their needs are going to be. The National Spectrum itself as a product of mechanism mou with fcc thats very powerful. The spectrum was strategy together to make sure we keep that coordination. You know how that goes, more agencies the longer it takes. But that i yield back survey. Thank you the gentle lady yields back the chair wants to mention we have several members wading onto the subcommittee today under Committee Rules we will go through all of the members who are currently on the subcommittee. Will recognize them first then go to the way bonds. At the sennacherib recognize a gentle lady from floridas Third District for five minutes. All right, here we go. Good to see you. Could detect again, thank you. [laughter] likes good conversation this week. Thankfully you took the time for all just jump right into it. I know my colleagues have hit quite a bit on the dod study. We talked about that earlier. I will not delve into that prime going to take a different turn here. But a talk but ii ja. So ntia was given a 50000000. 2 of the total funds were set aside to administer the program. Think that comes out to about 17 million of my math is correct. The question is, with that and the additional funds for grant administration, do you have information regarding how many new Staff Members ntia hired to run the program . And how else do you plan to use these funds . And how much of the funds remain today so that this reporter. I do not have my finger tips at some those numbers by give you a sense of it which is weve grown quite a bit for the Study Programs we looked out across the lifecycle of this program it is a Tenure Program the beta beadprogram was given a fair amt of money with a lot of that. I was in the other programs we administer are much neater. 2 to run a Competitive Grant Program public not enough to do that. There is more we could say about that but will generally note we stepped up quite a bit. Well over one or people workingg across our broadband programs. I could give you specific numbers but where the biggest things weve done is built out the state Program Officer cadre i was mentioning. We have a person for every state. In the state knows who they can pick up the phone and call. That is Customer Service approach has been the biggest thing would be is the money to build. And i think its working well for the states. I do have a couple questions in that same line about our state Broadband Office and the Accountability Measures i will submit those for the record if you could get back to us. And very happy to follow up with you and your team directly about it. I appreciate that. There is been a couple ig reports about first nets. In august of 2020 shoot first net did not have reliable cost estimates. The november 20221st net cannot demonstrate or use the toy that maximize the benefit of for Public Safety in march 2023 but failed to provide adequate contract oversight. So without a doubt you and ive had a conversation wife of a first responder, first that is very important for Public Safety. I am an advocate. It looks like they are insignificant need of more oversight from ntia. Can you tell us what steps you are taking . Its a terrific question per limit quickly say how important first net is to us. It is a huge priority. And so many ways as a Publicprivate PartnershipSuccess Story to go in six or seven years from nothing 25,000,001st responders relying on the network it is hugely important to us. That said we need to make sure its run properly. We have seen those reports before my time but we institute reforms were the first nets is operating now in the ways that address those concerns but we also have new leadership including a very dynamic and excellent new executive director who comes out of the federal government and understands how federal government oversight needs to work. I have a lot of confidence in our path forward to make sure we address those concerns. Perhaps in your response if you could kind of when ig reports come out and no steps are taken a recommendation are adopted. Its really important if you get that back too. Is a lot you could say and im happy to discuss with questions or follow directly progress and im short on time. You and i talked about this a little bit earlier this week. Could you talk about the implementation effort that you are undertaking a nextgeneration 911 in that same vein of First Responders in Public Safety . Its incredibly important thing for our countrys way people communicate has changed. We need our nano insiders to keep up it to visit across the country to how big they need is. It could be a path of finding that work. Quickly run out of time and submit those for the record for appreciate and i yield too. A gentle lady time has expired the chair now recognize a johnna from texas and the 14th district for five minutes of questions. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Secretary davidson my home district near houston is home to the Largest Network in the world. Almost four square miles at dow chemical. We have seen how beneficial shared spectrum like cbr s is for the industrial manufacturing sectors. Companies like the Taiwan Semiconductor company and john deere as you know also use the technology. My question for you is what work has an cia done how the 3. 1, 3. 5 gigahertz band could supercharge efficiency and innovation for manufacturers particularly as their workmate relate to similar undertakings in the department of commerce in implementing the chips act . That is a great question. I will say first of all we are excited and see the progress made it. Spectrum showing is going to be a huge part of our future. Making sure using spectrum efficiently by showing up among different users who can make the most beneficial use of it. I am glad to hear the reallife examples of how well it is working. We have also been tracking progress we release a study earlier this year looking at the adoption and seeing a huge uptick in its use which is terrific. The u. S. I think 3. 1 both the lower three gigahertz. The tricky part there is what we are seeing from our colleagues at dod that portion of the spectrumis not readily availably on throws try to say earlier. You cannot share it now and use it. We have real work to do to meet the conditions where we could do more sharing. But we are not ready to give up on i want to do the hard work work as a party or exchange did not discuss it in this setting . Part of it is conversation better had we can talk to the full report. In a more appropriate setting the second piece, the part i can say is we remain committed to the follow on work that is necessary to make the shoring possible. A followup question, nta holds any concerns about the cost of building out lowpower bands are using Similar Technology heres an old word, auction spectrum. We are always keen to make sure been careful about taxpayer money and costs. At the same time their win wins i think this is what youre getting at we can basically make sure that is exactly. To what extent is the economic of the commercial industry sharing the band considered in the report . That part again easy to talko talk about in a different setting or we can discuss the full report. That is a part that was missing in some ways too. He passed report the lower 38 focuses almost entirely on the question of whether assuring was possible today. It did not look at the question of if you had money to spend they from auction proceeds would there be greater opportunity for sharing or other kinds of commercial use . That is the follow on fees we would like to take up. It was not study in that first part but its very valuable. With that mr. Chairman im going to go ahead and yell back. Thank you come the judgment yields back the root is time for the chair recognizes the gentleman from idaho for five minutes. Correct think it mr. Jared had mr. Davidson thank you for being here today. In the infrastructure Jobs Act Congress chose to remain Technology Neutral when creating the beta program. Ntia in the notice of funding prioritize projects utilizing end to end fiber projects wasnt where states determine high cost per location threshold. Many states have acknowledged the funding will not allow them to fully connect the unserved areas in the state using only fiber. That being able to utilize a mix of technology will maximize the funds. So, the language demonstrates Congress Intent but the allocation of the funding, the technology be inclusive allowing states to make decisions based on maximizing to reach the funds. But the administration and ntia made a clear preference for fibers what looks like to me. So now to the question, could you give us some explanation how ntia tends to handle plans that include technologies other than fiber . Such as fixed wireless access and so on. Thank you for the question. It is a very important question. I will just say we have known from the beginning we will only succeed in this mission of connecting everybody if we use all available technologies. And while we do think we are doing every american the best possible Internet Connection they can get at in many cases that is a fiber connection. In many situations that just is not going to be possible. We expect states will have plans that include a variety of Technology Including fixed wireless and lower orbit satellites that offer a lot of potential for connecting places at a very, very hard to reach. The short answer is we will look favorably upon those that have all these technologies question. To confirm states will be permitted to make decisions on the distribution of funds . Based on the individual situation . Exactly but there are a set of rules that we lay out about how they do that. But we always expect in the ande rules are set out in a way the notices set out in a way they can adopt a variety of technology per. Okay thank you but according to an cia in Historical Preservation