Senators Propose Internet Of Things Legislation
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In February, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing, “The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things,” to examine the future of connected Internet technologies. Following that hearing, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a piece of legislation designed to address the Internet of Things. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission released a report on the Internet of Things following their 2013 workshop on the same topic.
The February hearing was requested by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R- NH), Sen. Cory Booker, (D-NJ), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Sen. Brian Schatz (D – HI), the same bipartisan group that has introduced the new legislation.
The resolution calls for a national vision to promote economic growth and greater consumer empowerment through the IoT. As a key part of that strategy, the resolution proposed the government “commit itself to using the Internet of Things to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and cut waste, fraud and abuse whenever possible.” The strategy should also responsibly protect against misuse of the Internet of Things, the resolution noted.
The burgeoning IoT network could “empower consumers, foster future economic growth and improve our collective social well-being” in spheres such as agriculture, education, energy, health care, public safety, security and transportation, according to the resolution.
Senator Fischer explains, “The United States is well-positioned to lead the world in innovative policy. Our Internet of Things resolution would commit our nation to a national strategy incentivizing the use of new technologies to maximize consumer opportunity and to facilitate economic growth. This forward-thinking initiative would call for a modern framework that encourages innovators. By doing so, we can usher in new ideas and solve problems in the years to come.”
The senators believe that the resolution would place the United States in a favorable position to maintain its global competitiveness in the digital age. The Internet of Things will generate an estimated $8.9 trillion in global revenues with more than 200 billion connected objects by 2020, according to a recent report by International Data Corporation, and in 2013, nine of the top 10 most innovative companies in the world were based in the United States. The rapidly expanding capabilities of the IoT represent a wealth of opportunities for expansion across industries. Senator Schatz states, “The Internet of Things holds enormous potential. And with more and more devices connecting to the Internet every day, the United States has a unique opportunity to continue leading this technological revolution. As we work to advance the Internet of Things, we must remain committed to empowering consumers, developing technological safeguards while enabling innovation, and improving the quality of life for future generations.”