One of the primary rRNA binding proteins, it binds specifically to the 5'-end of 16S ribosomal RNA (PubMed:4598121). Also plays a role in translational accuracy; neamine-resistant ribosomes show reduced neamine-induced misreading in vitro (PubMed:765484, PubMed:781296). Part of the 30S ribosomal subunit (PubMed:344065, PubMed:7556101, PubMed:4598121, PubMed:10094780, PubMed:12244297, PubMed:12809609, PubMed:16272117, PubMed:27934701, PubMed:27906160, PubMed:27906161). The strain missing both S17 and L29 grows very slowly and has a rather unstable temperature-sensitive phenotype. Belongs to the universal ribosomal protein uS17 family.