[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7184-H7185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INSTITUTE FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SCIENCES CODIFICATION ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4990) to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences 
and to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
and Information to establish an initiative to support the development 
of emergency communication and tracking technologies, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4990

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Institute for 
     Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act'' or the ``ITS 
     Codification Act''.

     SEC. 2. INSTITUTE FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SCIENCES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The test center within National Telecommunications and 
     Information Administration (in this subsection referred to as 
     the ``NTIA'') represents executive branch agencies on 
     spectrum issues before the Federal Communications Commission.
       (2) Understanding radio frequency propagation 
     characteristics and modeling is a critical component of 
     making spectrum decisions.
       (3) Federal agencies rely on expert engineering studies, 
     simulations, and analyses to make determinations about how to 
     make spectrum available for commercial use, including through 
     system relocations and identifying spectrum sharing 
     opportunities through the NTIA.
       (4) Clearing of Federal spectrum, when feasible, is the 
     priority action to take to make Federal spectrum available 
     for commercial uses as required by section 113(j)(1) of the 
     National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
     Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 923(j)(1)).
       (5) Sharing of Federal spectrum between Federal entities 
     and commercial entities provides access to Federal spectrum 
     for commercial uses in circumstances where clearing is not 
     feasible.
       (6) The test center within NTIA, is the Government's 
     premier expert laboratory for spectrum research activities, 
     spectrum sharing innovation and testing, spectrum 
     interference studies, and all activities related to advancing 
     next generation wireless technologies.
       (7) The test center within NTIA is critical for undertaking 
     engineering studies and analyses that inform clearing or 
     sharing opportunities and facilitate policy decisions to 
     maximize the efficient use of spectrum resources.
       (b) Operation of Test Center.--Part A of the National 
     Telecommunications and Information Administration 
     Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 106. INSTITUTE FOR TELECOMMUNICATION SCIENCES.

       ``(a) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--Under the authority provided to the 
     Assistant Secretary under section 103, the Assistant 
     Secretary shall operate a test center to be known as the 
     Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (in this section 
     referred to as `ITS').
       ``(2) Functions.--
       ``(A) In general.--In addition to any functions delegated 
     by the Assistant Secretary under subparagraph (B), ITS shall 
     serve as the primary laboratory for the executive branch of 
     the Federal Government to--
       ``(i) study radio frequency emissions, including 
     technologies and techniques to control such emissions and 
     interference caused by such emissions;
       ``(ii) determine spectrum propagation characteristics;
       ``(iii) conduct tests on technology that enhances the 
     sharing of electromagnetic spectrum between Federal and non-
     Federal users;
       ``(iv) improve the interference tolerance of Federal 
     systems operating with, or using, Federal spectrum;
       ``(v) promote activities relating to access to Federal 
     spectrum by non-Federal users and the sharing of Federal 
     spectrum between Federal and non-Federal users; and
       ``(vi) conduct such other activities as determined 
     necessary by the Assistant Secretary.
       ``(B) Additional functions.--The Assistant Secretary may 
     delegate to ITS any of the functions assigned to the 
     Assistant Secretary under section 103(b)(1).
       ``(3) Agreements and transactions.--In carrying out the 
     functions described in paragraph (2), the Assistant 
     Secretary, acting through the head of ITS, may enter into 
     agreements as provided under the following authorities:
       ``(A) Sections 11 and 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
     Innovation Act of 1980.
       ``(B) Section 1535 of title 31, United States Code.
       ``(C) Sections 207 and 209 of title 35, United States Code.
       ``(D) Section 103(b)(2) of this Act.
       ``(E) Section 113(g) of this Act.
       ``(F) The first undesignated section of Public Law 91-412.
       ``(G) As authorized in any other Federal statute.
       ``(4) Federal spectrum defined.--In this subsection, the 
     term `Federal spectrum' means frequencies assigned on a 
     primary basis to a Federal entity (as defined in section 
     113(l)).
       ``(b) Emergency Communication and Tracking Technologies 
     Initiative.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary, acting 
     through the head of ITS, shall establish an initiative to 
     support the development of emergency communication and 
     tracking technologies for use in locating trapped individuals 
     in confined spaces, such as underground mines, and other 
     shielded environments, such as high-rise buildings or 
     collapsed structures, where conventional radio communication 
     is limited.
       ``(2) Activities.--In order to carry out this subsection, 
     the Assistant Secretary, acting through the head of ITS, 
     shall work with private sector entities and the heads of 
     appropriate Federal agencies, to--
       ``(A) perform a needs assessment to identify and evaluate 
     the measurement, technical specifications, and conformity 
     assessment needs required to improve the operation and 
     reliability of such emergency communication and tracking 
     technologies; and
       ``(B) support the development of technical specifications 
     and conformance architecture to improve the operation and 
     reliability of such emergency communication and tracking 
     technologies.
       ``(3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary shall 
     submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a report on 
     the assessment performed under paragraph (2)(A).''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 4990.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4990, the ITS 
Codification Act.
  The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, or ITS, is the premier 
engineering laboratory of the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, or NTIA. Amongst its many responsibilities, 
ITS manages various technology development programs for NTIA and the 
Department of Commerce and oversees cutting-edge studies concerning the 
use of our country's airwaves. ITS has played a significant role in 
furthering telecommunication advancements for our country's benefit.
  H.R. 4990 recognizes the numerous contributions of ITS by providing 
it with additional statutory authority. Specifically, under this 
legislation, ITS will serve as the primary laboratory for the executive 
branch of the Federal Government. It will be charged with studying the 
use of innovative sharing technologies for our airwaves and improving 
the interference tolerance of Federal systems operating with, or using, 
Federal spectrum. The legislation also will allow the Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting 
through the head of ITS, to enter into agreements needed to carry out 
the functions of ITS.
  This bill also requires the Assistant Secretary to establish an 
initiative to support the development of emergency communication and 
tracking technologies. These technologies would then be used to locate 
individuals

[[Page H7185]]

trapped in areas where mobile connectivity may not be available due to 
natural disasters or other devastating events.
  I commend Representatives O'Halleran and Carter for their bipartisan 
work on this bill. This is a good bill as it ensures that one of our 
Nation's key telecommunications facilities has the necessary tools and 
resources to not only continue to do its work but also expand its 
activities, including by enhancing rescue efforts for Americans trapped 
in disaster areas.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I look 
forward to its consideration in the Senate.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4990, the ITS 
Codification Act.
  As demand for wireless technology continues to grow, we must continue 
to focus on identifying potential opportunities to make more spectrum 
available for commercial use, including reallocating and sharing 
spectrum from Federal users.
  In order to protect Federal missions, these reallocation decisions 
rely on complex technical testing and analysis that experts at the 
Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration evaluate. As policymakers consider 
reallocating Federal spectrum for commercial use, it is critical that 
the FCC and NTIA have the information they need to make these 
decisions.
  The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, or ITS, within NTIA 
plays an essential role in conducting the radiofrequency tests that 
provide this technical information. The work ITS performs has led to 
innovative advancements in the way we manage our airwaves.
  These airwaves power faster mobile connectivity for Americans, and 
making more spectrum available in the future is critical to beating 
China and others in wireless and technological innovation.
  The ITS Codification Act will strengthen statutory authority for ITS 
and ensure that the work they do to advance United States wireless 
leadership remains a critical ingredient to our success.
  Furthermore, I am proud that H.R. 4990 went through regular order and 
enjoyed unanimous support in both the subcommittee and full committee 
markups of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I would do the same. This is a 
significant bill. I urge everyone to support it on a bipartisan basis, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4990, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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