ITS Codification Act

This bill puts the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) into law and makes it the federal government’s main lab for radio and wireless research. ITS will study how radio signals travel, test ways to share airwaves between government and private users, and work to cut down on signal interference so devices work better and more reliably. ITS is the research and engineering arm of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

It also starts an effort to improve emergency communication and tracking tools that help find people trapped in hard‑to‑reach places, like underground mines, high‑rise buildings, or collapsed structures, where normal radios don’t work well. The government will team up with private companies and other agencies to figure out what is needed, set technical standards, and report the findings to the public within 18 months of the law taking effect.

• Who is affected: People in emergencies (like miners or building occupants), first responders, federal agencies, and private tech companies working on wireless tools.
• What changes: ITS is made the primary federal lab for radio research and testing; a new initiative supports better tools to locate trapped individuals and improve emergency communications .
• When: A public report on needs and standards is due within 18 months after the law is enacted.