Valentin Boullier

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a resolution related to the Internet of Things (IoT). Introduced in House on September 7th by Rep. Leonard Lance (Republican) and co-sponsored by one republican and two democrats, it has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce the same day. This is one year after a similar resolution was passed by the Senate in nearly identical terms by Sen. Deb Fischer (republican). In January 2015, a congresswoman and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Courts and the Internet had launched the Congressional Caucus on the Internet of Things.

The International Telecommunication Union defines the Internet of Things as « a global infrastructure for the information society, enabling advanced services by interconnecting (physical and virtual) things based on existing and evolving interoperable information and communication technologies » (ITU, recommendation ITU-T Y.2060, Overview of the Internet of Things, June 2012). Despite its importance and its growth, the IoT had not received, until now, the proper attention by the representatives and the Administration, as officials were more focused on big data (see Obama’s January, 17th speech and several reports: PODESTA (J)., PRITZKER (P.), et alii, Big Data: Seizing Opportunities, Preserving Values, may 2014, 85p. and MUÑOZ (C.), SMITH (M.), PATIL (DJ), Big Data: A Report on Algorithmic Systems, Opportunity, and Civil Rights, Executive Office of the President, may 2016).

By this resolution (H. Res. 847), the House fully recognizes the potential of the IoT, that could « generate trillions of dollars in economic opportunity ». The House calls for a national strategy to encourage the development of the IoT « in a way that maximizes the promise connected technologies hold to empower consumers … ». Beyond consumers, it is the opinion of the House that the IoT shall empower citizens, and may cut « waste, fraud, and abuse … ». According to the House, the Government should also develops its collaboration with the private sector. The main issues about the IoT, privacy and cybersecurity, are also considered and the House encourages businesses to implement « reasonable privacy and cybersecurity practices and protect consumers’ personal information to increase confidence, trust, and acceptance of this emerging market ».

The Center for Data Innovation, which called for a national strategy a year before in its report « Why Countries Need National Strategies for the Internet of Things », congratulated the House.

On a blog post, Intel also congratulated the House and highlighted the importance to adopter the DIGIT Act in a near future. The Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act, introduced in Senate by Sen. Deb Fisher (S. 2067; the DIGIT Act has been introduced in House by Rep. Erik Paulsen – H.R. 5117), if passed, would require the Department of Commerce to set up a working group in order to deliver recommendations and report to the Congress about the IoT.

SOURCES:

• H. Res. 847-Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives about a national strategy for the Internet of Things to promote economic growth and consumer empowerment, <https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/847>
• Obama’s speech: <https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/full-text-of-president-obamas-jan-17-speech-on-nsa-reforms/2014/01/17/fa33590a-7f8c-11e3-9556-4a4bf7bcbd84_story.html>
• PODESTA (J)., PRITZKER (P.), et alii, Big Data: Seizing Opportunities, Preserving Values, may 2014, 85p.
• MUÑOZ (C.), SMITH (M.), PATIL (DJ), Big Data: A Report on Algorithmic Systems, Opportunity, and Civil Rights, Executive Office of the President, may 2016, 29p.
• DICKMAN (M.), blogs.intel.com, America’s Path Progresses to a National “Internet of Things” Strategy, September 14th, 2016, <http://blogs.intel.com/policy/2016/09/14/americas-path-progresses-national-internet-things-strategy/>
• NEW (J.), www.datainnovation.com, Congress Just Got Serious About a National Strategy for the Internet of Things, September 12th, 2016, <https://www.datainnovation.org/2016/09/congress-just-got-serious-about-a-national-strategy-for-the-internet-of-things/>
• NEW (J.), CASTRO (D.), Center for Data Innovation, Why Countries Need National Strategies for the Internet of Things, December 16th, 2016, http://www2.datainnovation.org/2015-national-iot-strategies.pdf>
• Press release, U.S. Reps. DelBene and Issa announce Creation of the Congressional Internet of Things Caucus, January 13rd, 2015, <https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-reps-delbene-and-issa-announce-creation-of-the-congressional-internet>