Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) announced the unanimous passage of a bipartisan bill in the House, which he co-authored with Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO). The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) Codification Act aims to strengthen the statutory authority of the ITS testing center, crucial for guiding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) spectrum policy decisions.
The legislation also mandates ITS to create an initiative focused on developing emergency communication and tracking technologies. These technologies are intended for use in scenarios where mobile connectivity is disrupted due to natural disasters or other emergencies.
“The ITS is critical to achieving our goal of beating China by having effective, workable, and innovative spectrum policies and practices. I’m proud to co-lead this effort with Rep. Pettersen and am thrilled that the House unanimously voted to send this important, life-saving bill to the Senate. I’m calling on my Senate colleagues to quickly get this bill to President Trump’s desk, so we can ensure mobile connectivity during natural disasters and other devastating events,” said Rep. Carter.
Rep. Pettersen highlighted a recent incident as a cautionary example: “The incident at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in my District last October was a devastating cautionary tale about what can happen in an emergency situation when people end up trapped where cell service isn’t available,” she said. “This bipartisan bill will enhance emergency communications for critical moments like the Gold Mine accident. Ensuring rescuers can effectively communicate can make all the difference in successfully saving lives.”
The full text of the bill is available for public reading.
