Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge the Department of Commerce to Lead on the Internet of Things

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) today urged the Department of Commerce to take steps to leverage the connecting of technologies known as the Internet of Things (IoT) for the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the government. 

In a joint letter to the Department of Commerce, the senators expressed their concern that U.S. agencies may not be taking a holistic view of how to facilitate and regulate the Internet of Things. In their letter, they suggest this could result in conflicting requirements by different agencies and an overall lack of collaboration to promote and regulate the IoT.

“To the extent the federal government must take concrete steps to leverage the emerging IoT for the benefit of our country, we urge strong attention be paid to proposals that shed light on how we can better work across sectors and agencies to reap the full benefits of the IoT,” the senators wrote. 

The bipartisan group of senators became concerned about a lack of inter-agency cooperation regarding the IoT while co-authoring the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, which was introduced last month. The DIGIT Act would address these concerns by requiring relevant agencies to hold discussions and generate recommendations for Congress on ways to foster inter-agency collaboration that would help protect consumers while also enabling innovation in the Internet of Things.

In their letter, the senators highlight that a comprehensive strategy could move the U.S. forward and provide our country with the opportunity to lead in the emerging space of the IoT. Additionally, they urge that special attention be given to proposals that shed light on how the government can better work across sectors and agencies to reap the benefits of the IoT.

Their letter coincides with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s ongoing request for public comment on the IoT.

To read the letter, click here.