Jean Rice

Senior Broadband Specialist
National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) 

Jean Rice is a telecommunications expert and advisor who works with federal agencies, tribal, local and state governments, industry, universities and non-profits on smart cities and community projects and provides technical assistance to support the widespread deployment of broadband infrastructure.

Ms. Rice focuses on the development of cutting-edge, cross-sector smart cities and broadband projects and collaborations and leads NTIA’s partnership with the National Institute of Technology and Standards’ Global Cities Team Challenge program.

She focuses on smart agriculture and rural, smart buildings, wireless, smart states, inclusion and smart regions. She is a member of the Networking and Information Technology and Research and Development Program’s Cyber-Physical System’s Interagency Working group and the Federal Smart Grid Task Force and had been a member of the prior NITRD Federal Smart Cities and Communities Task Force.

Ms. Rice co-founded and coordinates the Smart Cities and Communities Leadership Forum hosted by NTIA, NIST, NSF, and DHS S&T. "She is NTIA's Tribal Liaison." Ms. Rice has received several awards including an award from the Commerce Department for leadership in smart cities. She has developed numerous publications, including a number of Toolkits for NTIA, including “Powering a Smart City Through Partnerships; a Toolkit for Local and Tribal governments”. For 25 years, Ms. Rice was the CEO of a telecommunications consulting company for US cities and states.

NTIA is responsible for advising the President on Telecommunications and Information Administration policy issues. NITA’s programs and policy making focus on expanding broadband internet access and adoption in the US, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth.