Sens. Duckworth, Blackburn press for improvements to emergency communication technology

Through introduction of the ITS Codification Act (S. 3781) earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sought to codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) and improve the nation’s emergency communication technology.

“It’s critical that our first responders have access to reliable technology that can help them successfully locate and rescue individuals that find themselves trapped in confined spaces, often without any access to outside communication,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Blackburn to help codify the ITS at NTIA and develop emergency communication and tracking technologies that could save lives.”

Introduced in the Senate with Duckworth as sponsor and Blackburn as original cosponsor, the ITS Codification Act was an companion bill to U.S. Rep. Earl Carter’s (R-GA) version (H.R. 1343), which passed the House on April 25, 2023. The senators, like Carter, saw it as a way to aid technology responsible for saving lives.

“First responders need access to the best and most reliable equipment available, so that they can do their jobs to save lives,” Blackburn said. “Sometimes in emergency situations, individuals have no cell service or ability to be located by rescuers. By codifying the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, we can improve technologies for these scenarios and ensure efficient and effective use of our scarce spectrum resources – helping to keep America on the front lines of innovation.”

Currently, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences acts as the research and engineering lab for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Under this legislation, the institute would need to develop technologies to help locate trapped individuals in confined spaces where conventional radio communication is limited, which could be critical in certain search and rescue operations in particular.

S. 3781 has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.