WASHINGTON-The National Telecommunications and Information Administration came under fire last week by congressional Republicans who charged that some agency functions are redundant and attacked grant programs as a waste of taxpayer money that distort the free market.
“In an era where Americans are calling for smaller, more efficient government, we need to explore whether the functions performed by NTIA are necessary, whether they can be replaced by other agencies, or whether they can be privatized,” said Rep. Billy Tauzin, chairman of the House telecommunications subcommittee, at last Thursday’s hearing.
Tauzin noted that half of the $65 million in appropriations requested by the White House in fiscal 1998 for NTIA go toward grant programs.
“I believe it may be possible to reduce NTIA’s budget and their mission without disturbing some of the essential services that it performs,” Tauzin said, singling out the agency’s responsibility to advise the president on domestic and international telecommunications policy.
NTIA also manages federal government spectrum.
“NTIA is in a unique position to influence significantly the ability of U.S. companies to compete in the global marketplace of the 21st century and to enhance the benefits to the public of a strong, competitive telecommunications industry and infrastructure,” said Larry Irving, head of NTIA, in written testimony.
Last year, the GOP-led Congress tried unsuccessfully to eliminate NTIA’s parent agency, the Department of Commerce. Knowing that, Tauzin questioned why NTIA had not done more to reform itself since then.
Rep. Thomas Bliley (R-Va.), chairman of the Commerce Committee, was even more harsh in his criticism of NTIA and of the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program in particular.
“Through careful analysis we have determined that most of the TIIAP grant money is no longer necessary and should be substantially reduced in size or terminated altogether,” said Bliley.
Bliley recounted the experience of a Salem, Ore.,Internet service provider who claims NTIA’s grants have hurt his business.
But Darrel J. Parker, a police chief of Munhall Burough, Pa., said TIIAP-a matching grant program for libraries, schools, local government agencies and non-profit groups-increased law enforcement capability through government-assisted development of a new sophisticated e-mail system.
“There are several things that we would like to try with TUPPER (Technology Utilization Pilot for Enhanced Resources) in coming years, but without funding avenues, these again will be unfulfilled dreams. One such area is accessing our information from our cruisers,” said Parker in written testimony.
Peter Pitch, a former economist at the Federal Communications Commission, said it is “farfetched” to think NTIA grant programs serve as a stimulus for innovation in the private sector.
Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), top ranking minority member of the House telecommunications subcommittee, voiced support for NTIA and called Irving one of the nation’s top public officials.
