Federal Government Should Act to Encourage IoT Growth, NTIA Says in Green Paper

The federal government should take additional steps to encourage IoT growth, including creating a multistakeholder process to identify related policy challenges, NTIA said Thursday in a green paper. NTIA had been collecting stakeholders' feedback on IoT issues since April, though some critics suggested in comments the agency's investigation into those issues was a waste of time (see 1606060042). Stakeholders identified multiple challenges and barriers to IoT growth during a September event, suggesting the federal government employ only a light regulatory touch (see 1609010063). NTIA said it “heard a strong message from the submitted comments that coordination among U.S. government partners would be helpful, because of the complex, interdisciplinary, cross-sector nature of IoT. A federal coordination structure for these issues may also be helpful when working with international and private sector partners.” The Department of Commerce can promote IoT advancement through its own usage of the technology, and highlight its benefits to foreign partners, NTIA said. Commerce can encourage global development of technical standards on the IoT to ensure interoperability and advance tech development, NTIA said. The department should examine “removing barriers” to IoT innovation and promote norms that will protect the technology's users, NTIA said. Commerce also should enable the allocation of spectrum and other infrastructure developments to support IoT growth, NTIA said. The IoT “promises to revolutionize our world from increasing efficiency and convenience for industry, consumers, and government to improving safety,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in a news release. “Today’s report affirms the Department’s commitment to creating the conditions for emerging technologies to thrive, and it identifies future actions necessary to support the evolution and expansion of the IoT.” NTIA said it planned to publish a request for comment on the green paper in Friday's Federal Register. NTIA “has built a strong case for a proactive and coordinated effort throughout the federal government to support [IoT] on a national scale,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Center for Data Innovation Director Daniel Castro in a statement: “Because of the unique characteristics of [IoT], including its potential scale and scope, the United States will not be able to capture the full social and economic benefits of the technology without a concerted effort from policymakers throughout government to promote the development of the technology. We hope this report builds further momentum for Congress to move forward with establishing a national strategy” for IoT.