[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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