NTIA Green Paper on Advancing IoT Takes 'Right Approach,' Says US Chamber

NTIA is taking the "right approach" to advancing the IoT, as outlined in a green paper released in January, finding "no need" for specific regulation and identifying areas where government can promote the technology, said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a comment. In the paper, the agency, which extended a deadline for comments by three weeks until Monday, said the Department of Commerce can promote IoT by using the technology and highlighting its benefits, encourage global development of technical standards to ensure interoperability, enable spectrum allocation and examine how it can remove hurdles to IoT innovation and promote norms to protect users (see 1701120050). In its filing, the chamber said the green paper recognizes that an industry-led approach to develop "voluntary, consensus-based, and global standards" that will promote interoperability and open cross-border data flows is "fundamental," which should be supported by government. Flexible, risk-based solutions should underpin security, said the filing. It said the government should "support more robust, protected collaboration; promote consumer awareness and responsibility; and address liability concerns." The chamber also urged the government to harmonize regulations to modernize telecommunications infrastructure and expand broadband networks to advance autonomous vehicles and drones. It said Congress should pass the Digit Act (see 1701250072 and 1701240059), which will encourage collaboration among government and industry stakeholders.