WASHINGTON, D.C. – The bipartisan Internet of Things working group, which includes Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), today reintroduced the Developing and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act. The bill seeks to encourage the growth of this globally interconnected network and help identify barriers to its advancement.

“The most important part of the Internet of Things aren’t things at all.  They are people: the families, children, patients, and entrepreneurs whose lives could change through connected technology,” said Fischer. “The DIGIT Act would open up the lines of communication between the private and public sector to help ensure our nation can seize the incredible benefits of this growing, global network.”

“As connected technology continues to evolve, it’s critical that Congress update federal policy to keep pace with innovation in order to keep America competitive,” said Gardner. “I look forward to working with Senators Fischer, Booker, and Schatz to examine the full impact of new technologies and find legislative solutions that will unleash the power of American entrepreneurship to create jobs and boost economic growth.”

“This bill underscores our bipartisan commitment to fostering innovation, protecting consumers, and finding tech solutions to some of our most pressing challenges,” said Booker. “I look forward to continuing our focus on the Internet of Things through this legislation and other means so that America can continue to lead the world in advancing cutting-edge technologies.”

“As technology develops and more devices connect to the internet, we have an opportunity to continue leading this technological revolution,” said Schatz. “Our bipartisan bill recognizes the potential of the Internet of Things, and will help the private and public sectors work together to produce well-informed policies on connected technology moving forward.”

The DIGIT Act would convene a working group of federal entities that would consult with private sector stakeholders to provide recommendations to Congress. These recommendations would focus on how to plan for, and encourage, the growth of the Internet of Things in the United States. In facilitating this collaboration, the bill would provide input from private sector experts and prevent potential problems, such as regulatory silos. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a proceeding assessing the spectrum needs required to support the Internet of Things.

The DIGIT Act is supported by: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Competitive Carriers Association, the App Association, the Consumer Technology Association, Intel, the Information Technology Industry Council, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, National Association of Manufacturers, Tech CEO Council, the Telecommunications Industry Association, VMWare, the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Security Industry Association, and the Computing Research Association.

Click here to view the text of the DIGIT Act.

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