Senate advances Internet of Things bill proposed by Fischer, Gardner

A bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) to ensure appropriate prioritization, spectrum planning and interagency coordination to support the Internet of Things (IoT) on Jan. 8 received unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate.

“As connected technology continues to evolve, it’s critical that Congress and the federal government leverage innovation developed in the private sector, and I’m glad the Senate passed the bipartisan DIGIT Act,” Sen. Gardner said last week.

Sen. Fischer in May 2019 sponsored the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, S. 1611, with original cosponsors including Sen. Gardner and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI).

“As America moves toward an increasingly connected future, the DIGIT Act will ensure that we remain a technological leader,” said Sen. Fischer. “I am grateful for the work of the bipartisan Senate IoT Working Group on this bill, which would spur innovative solutions across industries to benefit our nation’s families, communities and businesses.”

If enacted, S. 1611 would task a new working group of federal entities and experts from the private and academic sectors with providing recommendations to Congress on how to facilitate the growth of IoT, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers’ offices.

“This bill will improve coordination between the federal government and the technology industry and create opportunities for further deployment of secure IoT devices,” Sen. Gardner said.

Additionally, S. 1611 would direct the Federal Communications Commission to complete a report assessing spectrum needs required to support the IoT, according to the bill summary.

The bill is endorsed by numerous organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, CTIA, the Competitive Carriers Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, and the Telecommunications Industry Association, among others.

“I look forward to the House’s consideration of this legislation,” Sen. Fischer said.