H.R. 1455 – ITS Codification Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:33 AM UTC

The ITS Codification Act formally establishes the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences within the NTIA as the federal government’s primary lab for spectrum research, testing, and sharing. It outlines ITS’s responsibilities for studying radio emissions, improving spectrum use, and supporting commercial access to federal frequencies. The bill also creates a new initiative to develop emergency communication and tracking tools for use in underground mines, high‑rise buildings, and other environments where normal radio signals are limited, and requires a report on progress within 18 months.

Key Provisions

Amends the NTIA organization act to formally create the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) as a test center operated by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
Defines ITS’s core duties: studying radio frequency emissions, determining spectrum propagation, testing technologies that enable spectrum sharing between federal and non‑federal users, improving interference tolerance, and promoting access to federal spectrum for commercial use.
Allows the Assistant Secretary to delegate additional functions to ITS and to enter into agreements under various technology‑transfer and patent statutes to carry out its work.
Directs the Assistant Secretary, through ITS, to launch an initiative that develops emergency communication and tracking technologies for locating people in confined or shielded environments where normal radio signals don’t work, such as mines, high‑rise buildings, or collapsed structures.
Requires a needs assessment and development of technical specifications for those emergency technologies, and mandates a public report to Congress within 18 months of enactment.

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 15, 2025

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 21, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 21, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 4, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 4, 2025

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-176.

Energy and Commerce Committee

June 30, 2025

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 142.

June 30, 2025

HouseFloor

Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

July 14, 2025 • 3:33 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3215-3217)

July 14, 2025 • 3:33 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1455.

July 14, 2025 • 3:33 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

July 14, 2025 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3215-3216)

July 14, 2025 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

July 14, 2025 • 3:41 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 15, 2025

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 1455 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Robert E. LattaR-OH-5 · Jul 14, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1455) to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences and to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1455) 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.

Mr. 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 in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1455, the Institute for Telecommunications Sciences Codification Act, or ITS Codification Act, led by the Representative from Georgia's First District and the Representative from Colorado's Seventh District.

As demand for wireless technology continues to grow, we must continue to focus on identifying potential opportunities that make more spectrum available for commercial use, including reallocating and sharing spectrum.

Complex, technical engineering testing and analysis underpins these important decisions on how best to maximize our airwaves for commercial use while preserving essential Federal missions.

The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, or ITS, within NTIA plays an essential role in conducting the tests that guide spectrum reallocation or sharing decisions. ITS will also help ensure that NTIA, as the Federal spectrum manager, can continue to find opportunities to unleash commercial wireless innovation, while also ensuring military readiness, securing our southern border, advancing scientific discovery, and other Federal missions are successful.

The work ITS performs has led to innovative advancements in the way we manage our airways. These airways power faster mobile connectivity for Americans, and making more spectrum available in the future is critical to beating Communist China and ensuring our continued economic and national security.

The ITS Codification Act will strengthen the statutory authority for ITS and ensure that the work that they do to advance United States technological leadership remains a key part of our approach. This bipartisan legislation passed by a voice vote last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1455, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, for a good number of years in the Energy and Commerce Committee, especially in the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, one of the things we have talked about is how much more spectrum we have to have in this country to move forward.

For us to stay number one in the world in this sector, it is absolutely essential that this piece of legislation is supported and agreed to by the House, and I ask for support of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.D-NJ-6 · Jul 14, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1455, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act, or ITS Codification Act. The…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1455, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act, or ITS Codification Act.

The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, or ITS, is the premier engineering laboratory of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA.

Among 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. 1455 recognizes the numerous contributions of ITS by providing it with additional statutory authority. Under this bill, ITS will serve as the primary laboratory for the executive branch of the Federal Government to study wireless technologies, including the use of innovative sharing technologies for our airwaves and improving the Federal Government's use of 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 the laboratory.

This bill also requires the Assistant Secretary to establish an initiative to support the development of emergency communications and tracking technologies. These technologies would then be used to locate people trapped in areas where wireless connectivity may not be available due to natural disasters and other devastating events.

I commend Representatives Pettersen and Carter for their bipartisan work on this bill. It will ensure that one of our Nation's key telecommunications facilities has the necessary tools and resources to not only continue its important work but also expand its activities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill. It is, obviously, very important.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" CarterR-GA-1 · Jul 14, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1455, the ITS Codification Act. This legislation would codify the Institute for…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued July 15, 2025

IIB

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1455

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 15, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

AN ACT

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act or the ITS Codification Act.

2.

Institute for Telecommunication Sciences

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

The test center within the 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 the 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 the 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:

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 (15 U.S.C. 3710; 3710a).

(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)

Any authorization 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).

.

Passed the House of Representatives July 14, 2025.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.