ITS Codification Act
Sponsored By: Senator Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences as a Department of Commerce test center to study radio‑frequency emissions, improve spectrum sharing, and advance emergency tracking technologies.
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- Families and first responders: it targets better emergency communication and tracking for locating people trapped in confined or shielded spaces like underground mines, high‑rise buildings, or collapsed structures. ITS would lead needs assessments and help develop technical specs to improve reliability.
- Private tech developers and standards groups: ITS may partner with private sector entities and use existing authorities to run tests, develop conformance architectures, and support commercial adoption of emergency and spectrum‑sharing technologies.
- Federal agencies and non‑Federal spectrum users: ITS would test RF emissions, study interference tolerance of Federal systems, analyze spectrum propagation, and examine ways to share Federal spectrum with non‑Federal users.
- Reporting requirement: ITS must submit a public report on its needs assessment to Congress within 18 months of enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal spectrum research lab
If enacted, the bill would create the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) as a test center in the Department of Commerce. The Assistant Secretary would operate ITS. ITS would study radio frequency emissions, propagation, interference tolerance, and technologies that help Federal and non‑Federal users share spectrum. ITS would be able to perform delegated communications functions and enter into cooperative and technology‑transfer agreements using existing federal authorities. "Federal spectrum" would mean frequencies assigned on a primary basis to a Federal entity.
Improved rescue communication and tracking
If enacted, the bill would require ITS to run an initiative to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies for finding people trapped where radios work poorly. Examples include underground mines, high‑rise buildings, and collapsed structures. ITS would work with private companies and Federal agencies to assess measurement, testing, and conformity needs. ITS would support development of technical specifications and a conformance architecture. ITS would report its assessment to Congress and publish the report within 18 months of enactment.
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.
View on Congress.gov