Four federal agencies have agreed to a broad data sharing agreement under which they will collaborate on collection and reporting and share information on broadband deployment.
The “covered agencies” in the “Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Information Sharing” are the FCC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, programs administered or coordinated by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund and the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Agencies will share information on projects that have or will receive funding from sources noted in the agreement, which became effective on May 11. Last June, the FCC, NTIA and USDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the distribution of federal high speed Internet funds. That agreement remains in effect.
“No matter who you are or where you live in this country, you need access to high-speed internet to have a fair shot at 21st century success,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release. “The FCC, NTIA, USDA and Treasury are working together like never before to meet this shared goal. Our new interagency agreement will allow us to collaborate more efficiently and deepen our current data sharing relationships. I thank Secretary Vilsack, Assistant Secretary Davidson, and Secretary Yellen for their continued partnership, so we can get everyone, everywhere connected to the high-speed internet they need.”
Sharing broadband information is becoming increasingly critical, considering that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 includes $65 billion for broadband.
Beyond the infrastructure program, there are several other programs to coordinate, including CARES Act and ARPA program funding, the USDA ReConnect program, and the aforementioned
Beyond the infrastructure program, there are several other programs to coordinate, including CARES Act and ARPA program funding, the USDA ReConnect program, and the aforementioned Treasury Department Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, among others.
