Opening Remarks from Alan Davidson Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is thrilled to share details and answer questions about the launch of the first round of funding from our $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund. The Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund will allow us to invest in the next-generation of wireless innovation to unlock opportunities for new and emerging companies. It’s a long project – it will take a decade or more – and to get there, we need your help. Out of the 200 attendees heard at the first public session for the Wireless Innovation Fund, we heard that testing, evaluation, research, and development are going to be critical if we're going to catalyze new approaches to wireless networks. 76% of the respondents to our request for comments in this space cited the need to prioritize testing. And nearly 70% said we need to invest in security. And so our first Notice of Funding Opportunity responds to that input in a few important ways. First, we focus on the testing and evaluation of open and interoperable networks. This includes expanding industry-accepted testing and evaluation activities to assess these networks; developing new or improved testing methodologies to validate them, and addressing specific wireless testing needs. Second, is the emphasis on security. Research and development should make sure to minimize network risk, build trust and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. And finally, we are extending eligibility to international applicants as a result of the feedback we received. In closing, we believe that open and interoperable networks are the way of the future. Our Wireless Innovation Fund will help put the US and its partners at the forefront of that innovation.