Georgia Mountain News

Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) have introduced the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) Codification Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing the statutory authority of the ITS testing center. This facility plays a crucial role in guiding spectrum policy decisions by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

The proposed legislation mandates ITS to initiate an emergency communication and tracking technology program. This initiative aims to assist in locating individuals trapped in areas with limited mobile connectivity due to natural disasters or other catastrophic events.

Rep. Carter emphasized the life-saving potential of this bill, stating, "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." He expressed pride in collaborating with Rep. Pettersen to advance American innovation.

Rep. Pettersen highlighted the importance of improving emergency communications, especially during crises such as earthquakes or building collapses where cell phone service might be unavailable. She noted that "this bipartisan bill will help us study, develop, and improve emergency communications for these exact scenarios," while also supporting the Colorado-based Institute for Telecommunication Sciences in its ongoing efforts to test new technologies.

For those interested in more details, the full text of the bill is available for reading.