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119-s-4950119th CongressWALLET

ITS Codification Act

Sponsored By: Senator Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

In Committee

Summary

Codifies the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) within the NTIA and would create an initiative to improve emergency communication and tracking technologies for use in confined or shielded environments.

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  • Would push development of technologies to locate people trapped in underground mines, collapsed structures, and other places where conventional radio fails.
  • Would make ITS a formal NTIA test center to study radio frequency emissions, spectrum propagation, spectrum sharing, and interference tolerance for Federal spectrum.
  • Would let ITS enter partnerships with private companies and other federal labs under existing authorities to develop technical specifications and a conformance architecture to improve device reliability.
  • Requires a public report to Congress within 18 months summarizing a needs assessment for measurement, technical specifications, and conformity testing.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Emergency rescue communications standards

If enacted, the bill would require the Assistant Secretary, through ITS, to start an initiative to improve emergency communications and tracking in confined or shielded spaces. ITS would work with private companies and federal agencies to do a needs assessment of measurement, technical, and conformance requirements. ITS would support developing technical specifications and a conformance architecture to make such equipment more reliable and interoperable. ITS must send a public report on the assessment to Congress within 18 months after enactment.

New federal spectrum research lab

If enacted, the bill would make the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences a formal NTIA test center. The Assistant Secretary would run the lab and could delegate communications functions to it. ITS would focus on research and testing of radio‑frequency emissions, spectrum propagation, interference tolerance, and spectrum sharing for "Federal spectrum." The Assistant Secretary, acting through ITS, would be able to enter cooperative agreements with federal labs, agencies, and private companies under existing authorities.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 7/28/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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