Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act
Floor Speech
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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).''.
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Mr. PALLONE. 4990.
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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 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.
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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.
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