[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S81-S84]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DEVELOPING INNOVATION AND GROWING THE INTERNET OF THINGS ACT

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 375, S. 1611.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1611) to ensure appropriate prioritization, 
     spectrum planning, and interagency coordination to support 
     the Internet of Things.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, with amendments, as 
follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets, and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown 
in italics.)

                                S. 1611

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Developing Innovation and 
     Growing the Internet of Things Act'' or the ``DIGIT Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Internet of Things refers to the growing number of 
     connected and interconnected devices;
       (2) estimates indicate that more than 125,000,000,000 
     devices will be connected to the internet by 2030;
       (3) the Internet of Things has the potential to generate 
     trillions of dollars in new economic activity around the 
     world in the transportation, energy, agriculture, 
     manufacturing, and health care sectors and in other sectors 
     that are critical to the growth of the gross domestic product 
     of the United States;
       (4) businesses across the United States can develop new 
     services and products, improve the efficiency of operations 
     and logistics, cut costs, improve worker and public safety, 
     and pass savings on to consumers by utilizing the Internet of 
     Things and related innovations;
       (5) the Internet of Things will--
       (A) be vital in furthering innovation and the development 
     of emerging technologies; and
       (B) play a key role in developing artificial intelligence 
     and advanced computing capabilities;
       (6) the United States leads the world in the development of 
     technologies that support the internet, the United States 
     technology sector is well-positioned to lead in the 
     development of technologies for the Internet of Things, and 
     the appropriate prioritization of a national strategy with 
     respect to the Internet of Things would strengthen that 
     position;
       (7) the Federal Government can implement this technology to 
     better deliver services to the public; and
       (8) the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 110, 
     114th Congress, agreed to

[[Page S82]]

     March 24, 2015, calling for a national strategy for the 
     development of the Internet of Things.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     policies governing the Internet of Things should--
       (1) promote solutions with respect to the Internet of 
     Things that are secure, scalable, interoperable, industry-
     driven, and standards-based; and
       (2) maximize the development and deployment of the Internet 
     of Things to benefit all stakeholders, including businesses, 
     governments, and consumers.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Commerce.
       (3) Steering committee.--The term ``steering committee'' 
     means the steering committee established under section 
     4(e)(1).
       (4) Working group.--The term ``working group'' means the 
     working group convened under section 4(a).

     SEC. 4. FEDERAL WORKING GROUP.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall convene a working 
     group of Federal stakeholders for the purpose of providing 
     recommendations and a report to Congress relating to the 
     aspects of the Internet of Things described in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Duties.--The working group shall--
       (1) identify any Federal regulations, statutes, grant 
     practices, budgetary or jurisdictional challenges, and other 
     sector-specific policies that are inhibiting, or could 
     inhibit, the development or deployment of the Internet of 
     Things;
       (2) consider policies or programs that encourage and 
     improve coordination among Federal agencies that have 
     responsibilities that are relevant to the objectives of this 
     Act;
       (3) consider any findings or recommendations made by the 
     steering committee and, where appropriate, act to implement 
     those recommendations;
       (4) examine--
       (A) how Federal agencies can benefit from utilizing the 
     Internet of Things;
       (B) the use of Internet of Things technology by Federal 
     agencies as of the date on which the working group performs 
     the examination;
       (C) the preparedness and ability of Federal agencies to 
     adopt Internet of Things technology as of the date on which 
     the working group performs the examination and in the future; 
     and
       (D) any additional security measures that Federal agencies 
     may need to take to--
       (i) safely and securely use the Internet of Things, 
     including measures that ensure the security of critical 
     infrastructure; and
       (ii) enhance the resiliency of Federal systems against 
     cyber threats to the Internet of Things; and
       (5) in carrying out the examinations required under clauses 
     (i) and (ii) of paragraph (4)(D), ensure to the maximum 
     extent possible the coordination of the current and future 
     activities of the Federal Government relating to security 
     with respect to the Internet of Things.
       (c) Agency Representatives.--In convening the working group 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall have discretion to 
     appoint representatives from Federal agencies and departments 
     as appropriate and shall specifically consider seeking 
     representation from--
       (1) the Department of Commerce, including--
       (A) the National Telecommunications and Information 
     Administration;
       (B) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and
       (C) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
       (2) the Department of Transportation;
       (3) the Department of Homeland Security;
       (4) the Office of Management and Budget;
       (5) the National Science Foundation;
       (6) the Commission;
       (7) the Federal Trade Commission;
       (8) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
       (9) the Department of Energy; and
       (10) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
       (d) Nongovernmental Stakeholders.--The working group shall 
     consult with nongovernmental stakeholders with expertise 
     relating to the Internet of Things, including--
       (1) the steering committee;
       (2) information and communications technology 
     manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and vendors;
       (3) subject matter experts representing industrial sectors 
     other than the technology sector that can benefit from the 
     Internet of Things, including the transportation, energy, 
     agriculture, and health care sectors;
       (4) small, medium, and large businesses;
       (5) think tanks and academia;
       (6) nonprofit organizations and consumer groups;
       (7) security experts;
       (8) rural stakeholders; and
       (9) other stakeholders with relevant expertise, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (e) Steering Committee.--
       (1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Department of Commerce a steering committee to advise the 
     working group.
       (2) Duties.--The steering committee shall advise the 
     working group with respect to--
       (A) the identification of any Federal regulations, 
     statutes, grant practices, programs, budgetary or 
     jurisdictional challenges, and other sector-specific policies 
     that are inhibiting, or could inhibit, the development of the 
     Internet of Things;
       (B) situations in which the use of the Internet of Things 
     is likely to deliver significant and scalable economic and 
     societal benefits to the United States, including benefits 
     from or to--
       (i) smart traffic and transit technologies;
       (ii) augmented logistics and supply chains;
       (iii) sustainable infrastructure;
       (iv) precision agriculture;
       (v) environmental monitoring;
       (vi) public safety; and
       (vii) health care;
       (C) whether adequate spectrum is available to support the 
     growing Internet of Things and what legal or regulatory 
     barriers may exist to providing any spectrum needed in the 
     future;
       (D) policies, programs, or multi-stakeholder activities 
     that--
       (i) promote or are related to the privacy of individuals 
     who use or are affected by the Internet of Things;
       (ii) may enhance the security of the Internet of Things, 
     including the security of critical infrastructure;
       (iii) may protect users of the Internet of Things; and
       (iv) may encourage coordination among Federal agencies with 
     jurisdiction over the Internet of Things;
       (E) the opportunities and challenges associated with the 
     use of Internet of Things technology by small businesses; and
       (F) any international proceeding, international 
     negotiation, or other international matter affecting the 
     Internet of Things to which the United States is or should be 
     a party.
       (3) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint to the 
     steering committee members representing a wide range of 
     stakeholders outside of the Federal Government with expertise 
     relating to the Internet of Things, including--
       (A) information and communications technology 
     manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and vendors;
       (B) subject matter experts representing industrial sectors 
     other than the technology sector that can benefit from the 
     Internet of Things, including the transportation, energy, 
     agriculture, and health care sectors;
       (C) small, medium, and large businesses;
       (D) think tanks and academia;
       (E) nonprofit organizations and consumer groups;
       (F) security experts;
       (G) rural stakeholders; and
       (H) other stakeholders with relevant expertise, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the steering committee shall submit to 
     the working group a report that includes any findings or 
     recommendations of the steering committee.
       (5) Independent advice.--
       (A) In general.--The steering committee shall set the 
     agenda of the steering committee in carrying out the duties 
     of the steering committee under paragraph (2).
       (B) Suggestions.--The working group may suggest topics or 
     items for the steering committee to study, and the steering 
     committee shall take those suggestions into consideration in 
     carrying out the duties of the steering committee.
       (C) Report.--The steering committee shall ensure that the 
     report submitted under paragraph (4) is the result of the 
     independent judgment of the steering committee.
       (6) No compensation for members.--A member of the steering 
     committee shall serve without compensation.
       [(6)](7) Termination.--The steering committee shall 
     terminate on the date on which the working group submits the 
     report under subsection (f) [unless, on or before that date, 
     the Secretary files a new charter for the steering committee 
     under section 9(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
     U.S.C. App.)].
       (f) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the working group shall submit to 
     Congress a report that includes--
       (A) the findings and recommendations of the working group 
     with respect to the duties of the working group under 
     subsection (b);
       (B) the report submitted by the steering committee under 
     subsection (e)(4), as the report was received by the working 
     group;
       (C) recommendations for action or reasons for inaction, as 
     applicable, with respect to each recommendation made by the 
     steering committee in the report submitted under subsection 
     (e)(4); and
       (D) an accounting of any progress made by Federal agencies 
     to implement recommendations made by the working group or the 
     steering committee.
       (2) Copy of report.--The working group shall submit a copy 
     of the report described in paragraph (1) to--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (C) any other committee of Congress, upon request to the 
     working group.

     SEC. 5. ASSESSING SPECTRUM NEEDS.

       (a) In General.--The Commission, in consultation with the 
     National Telecommunications and Information Administration,

[[Page S83]]

     shall issue a notice of inquiry seeking public comment on the 
     current, as of the date of enactment of this Act, and future 
     spectrum needs to enable better connectivity relating to the 
     Internet of Things.
       (b) Requirements.--In issuing the notice of inquiry under 
     subsection (a), the Commission shall seek comments that 
     consider and evaluate--
       (1) whether adequate spectrum is available, or is planned 
     for allocation, for commercial wireless services that could 
     support the growing Internet of Things;
       (2) if adequate spectrum is not available for the purposes 
     described in paragraph (1), how to ensure that adequate 
     spectrum is available for increased demand with respect to 
     the Internet of Things;
       (3) what regulatory barriers may exist to providing any 
     needed spectrum that would support uses relating to the 
     Internet of Things; and
       (4) what the role of unlicensed and licensed spectrum is 
     and will be in the growth of the Internet of Things.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives a report summarizing the comments 
     submitted in response to the notice of inquiry issued under 
     subsection (a).
  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported amendments be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, 
be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1611), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                S. 1611

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Developing Innovation and 
     Growing the Internet of Things Act'' or the ``DIGIT Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Internet of Things refers to the growing number of 
     connected and interconnected devices;
       (2) estimates indicate that more than 125,000,000,000 
     devices will be connected to the internet by 2030;
       (3) the Internet of Things has the potential to generate 
     trillions of dollars in new economic activity around the 
     world in the transportation, energy, agriculture, 
     manufacturing, and health care sectors and in other sectors 
     that are critical to the growth of the gross domestic product 
     of the United States;
       (4) businesses across the United States can develop new 
     services and products, improve the efficiency of operations 
     and logistics, cut costs, improve worker and public safety, 
     and pass savings on to consumers by utilizing the Internet of 
     Things and related innovations;
       (5) the Internet of Things will--
       (A) be vital in furthering innovation and the development 
     of emerging technologies; and
       (B) play a key role in developing artificial intelligence 
     and advanced computing capabilities;
       (6) the United States leads the world in the development of 
     technologies that support the internet, the United States 
     technology sector is well-positioned to lead in the 
     development of technologies for the Internet of Things, and 
     the appropriate prioritization of a national strategy with 
     respect to the Internet of Things would strengthen that 
     position;
       (7) the Federal Government can implement this technology to 
     better deliver services to the public; and
       (8) the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 110, 
     114th Congress, agreed to March 24, 2015, calling for a 
     national strategy for the development of the Internet of 
     Things.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     policies governing the Internet of Things should--
       (1) promote solutions with respect to the Internet of 
     Things that are secure, scalable, interoperable, industry-
     driven, and standards-based; and
       (2) maximize the development and deployment of the Internet 
     of Things to benefit all stakeholders, including businesses, 
     governments, and consumers.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Commerce.
       (3) Steering committee.--The term ``steering committee'' 
     means the steering committee established under section 
     4(e)(1).
       (4) Working group.--The term ``working group'' means the 
     working group convened under section 4(a).

     SEC. 4. FEDERAL WORKING GROUP.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall convene a working 
     group of Federal stakeholders for the purpose of providing 
     recommendations and a report to Congress relating to the 
     aspects of the Internet of Things described in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Duties.--The working group shall--
       (1) identify any Federal regulations, statutes, grant 
     practices, budgetary or jurisdictional challenges, and other 
     sector-specific policies that are inhibiting, or could 
     inhibit, the development or deployment of the Internet of 
     Things;
       (2) consider policies or programs that encourage and 
     improve coordination among Federal agencies that have 
     responsibilities that are relevant to the objectives of this 
     Act;
       (3) consider any findings or recommendations made by the 
     steering committee and, where appropriate, act to implement 
     those recommendations;
       (4) examine--
       (A) how Federal agencies can benefit from utilizing the 
     Internet of Things;
       (B) the use of Internet of Things technology by Federal 
     agencies as of the date on which the working group performs 
     the examination;
       (C) the preparedness and ability of Federal agencies to 
     adopt Internet of Things technology as of the date on which 
     the working group performs the examination and in the future; 
     and
       (D) any additional security measures that Federal agencies 
     may need to take to--
       (i) safely and securely use the Internet of Things, 
     including measures that ensure the security of critical 
     infrastructure; and
       (ii) enhance the resiliency of Federal systems against 
     cyber threats to the Internet of Things; and
       (5) in carrying out the examinations required under clauses 
     (i) and (ii) of paragraph (4)(D), ensure to the maximum 
     extent possible the coordination of the current and future 
     activities of the Federal Government relating to security 
     with respect to the Internet of Things.
       (c) Agency Representatives.--In convening the working group 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall have discretion to 
     appoint representatives from Federal agencies and departments 
     as appropriate and shall specifically consider seeking 
     representation from--
       (1) the Department of Commerce, including--
       (A) the National Telecommunications and Information 
     Administration;
       (B) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and
       (C) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
       (2) the Department of Transportation;
       (3) the Department of Homeland Security;
       (4) the Office of Management and Budget;
       (5) the National Science Foundation;
       (6) the Commission;
       (7) the Federal Trade Commission;
       (8) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
       (9) the Department of Energy; and
       (10) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
       (d) Nongovernmental Stakeholders.--The working group shall 
     consult with nongovernmental stakeholders with expertise 
     relating to the Internet of Things, including--
       (1) the steering committee;
       (2) information and communications technology 
     manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and vendors;
       (3) subject matter experts representing industrial sectors 
     other than the technology sector that can benefit from the 
     Internet of Things, including the transportation, energy, 
     agriculture, and health care sectors;
       (4) small, medium, and large businesses;
       (5) think tanks and academia;
       (6) nonprofit organizations and consumer groups;
       (7) security experts;
       (8) rural stakeholders; and
       (9) other stakeholders with relevant expertise, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (e) Steering Committee.--
       (1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Department of Commerce a steering committee to advise the 
     working group.
       (2) Duties.--The steering committee shall advise the 
     working group with respect to--
       (A) the identification of any Federal regulations, 
     statutes, grant practices, programs, budgetary or 
     jurisdictional challenges, and other sector-specific policies 
     that are inhibiting, or could inhibit, the development of the 
     Internet of Things;
       (B) situations in which the use of the Internet of Things 
     is likely to deliver significant and scalable economic and 
     societal benefits to the United States, including benefits 
     from or to--
       (i) smart traffic and transit technologies;
       (ii) augmented logistics and supply chains;
       (iii) sustainable infrastructure;
       (iv) precision agriculture;
       (v) environmental monitoring;
       (vi) public safety; and
       (vii) health care;
       (C) whether adequate spectrum is available to support the 
     growing Internet of Things and what legal or regulatory 
     barriers may exist to providing any spectrum needed in the 
     future;
       (D) policies, programs, or multi-stakeholder activities 
     that--
       (i) promote or are related to the privacy of individuals 
     who use or are affected by the Internet of Things;

[[Page S84]]

       (ii) may enhance the security of the Internet of Things, 
     including the security of critical infrastructure;
       (iii) may protect users of the Internet of Things; and
       (iv) may encourage coordination among Federal agencies with 
     jurisdiction over the Internet of Things;
       (E) the opportunities and challenges associated with the 
     use of Internet of Things technology by small businesses; and
       (F) any international proceeding, international 
     negotiation, or other international matter affecting the 
     Internet of Things to which the United States is or should be 
     a party.
       (3) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint to the 
     steering committee members representing a wide range of 
     stakeholders outside of the Federal Government with expertise 
     relating to the Internet of Things, including--
       (A) information and communications technology 
     manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and vendors;
       (B) subject matter experts representing industrial sectors 
     other than the technology sector that can benefit from the 
     Internet of Things, including the transportation, energy, 
     agriculture, and health care sectors;
       (C) small, medium, and large businesses;
       (D) think tanks and academia;
       (E) nonprofit organizations and consumer groups;
       (F) security experts;
       (G) rural stakeholders; and
       (H) other stakeholders with relevant expertise, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the steering committee shall submit to 
     the working group a report that includes any findings or 
     recommendations of the steering committee.
       (5) Independent advice.--
       (A) In general.--The steering committee shall set the 
     agenda of the steering committee in carrying out the duties 
     of the steering committee under paragraph (2).
       (B) Suggestions.--The working group may suggest topics or 
     items for the steering committee to study, and the steering 
     committee shall take those suggestions into consideration in 
     carrying out the duties of the steering committee.
       (C) Report.--The steering committee shall ensure that the 
     report submitted under paragraph (4) is the result of the 
     independent judgment of the steering committee.
       (6) No compensation for members.--A member of the steering 
     committee shall serve without compensation.
       (7) Termination.--The steering committee shall terminate on 
     the date on which the working group submits the report under 
     subsection (f).
       (f) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the working group shall submit to 
     Congress a report that includes--
       (A) the findings and recommendations of the working group 
     with respect to the duties of the working group under 
     subsection (b);
       (B) the report submitted by the steering committee under 
     subsection (e)(4), as the report was received by the working 
     group;
       (C) recommendations for action or reasons for inaction, as 
     applicable, with respect to each recommendation made by the 
     steering committee in the report submitted under subsection 
     (e)(4); and
       (D) an accounting of any progress made by Federal agencies 
     to implement recommendations made by the working group or the 
     steering committee.
       (2) Copy of report.--The working group shall submit a copy 
     of the report described in paragraph (1) to--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (C) any other committee of Congress, upon request to the 
     working group.

     SEC. 5. ASSESSING SPECTRUM NEEDS.

       (a) In General.--The Commission, in consultation with the 
     National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
     shall issue a notice of inquiry seeking public comment on the 
     current, as of the date of enactment of this Act, and future 
     spectrum needs to enable better connectivity relating to the 
     Internet of Things.
       (b) Requirements.--In issuing the notice of inquiry under 
     subsection (a), the Commission shall seek comments that 
     consider and evaluate--
       (1) whether adequate spectrum is available, or is planned 
     for allocation, for commercial wireless services that could 
     support the growing Internet of Things;
       (2) if adequate spectrum is not available for the purposes 
     described in paragraph (1), how to ensure that adequate 
     spectrum is available for increased demand with respect to 
     the Internet of Things;
       (3) what regulatory barriers may exist to providing any 
     needed spectrum that would support uses relating to the 
     Internet of Things; and
       (4) what the role of unlicensed and licensed spectrum is 
     and will be in the growth of the Internet of Things.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives a report summarizing the comments 
     submitted in response to the notice of inquiry issued under 
     subsection (a).

                          ____________________