Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) today introduced their bipartisan bill, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) Codification Act. The bill strengthens the statutory authority of the ITS testing center, which is essential for informing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) spectrum policy decisions. 

The bill also directs ITS to establish an important and potentially life-saving initiative to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies for use in locating people trapped in areas where mobile connectivity may not be available due to natural disasters and other devastating events.

“The ITS Codification Act is an initiative that will save American lives. The ITS is critical to achieving our goals of having effective, workable, and innovative spectrum policies and practices. I am proud to be leading this effort with my colleague from Colorado so that we can continue to push American innovation and beat China,” said Rep. Carter.

"In emergency situations, like earthquakes and building collapses, people often get stuck in areas with little or no cell phone service, making it difficult to be located or reached by rescuers,” said Rep. Pettersen. “This bipartisan bill will help us study, develop, and improve emergency communications for these exact scenarios. Importantly it will also provide the Colorado-based Institute for Telecommunication Sciences with the foundation needed to continue their critical work and test emerging technologies to keep our communities safe and our nation on the cutting edge of innovation.”

Read the full bill text here.