[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57937-57938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18251]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


A Preliminary Update From the Internet of Things Federal Working 
Group

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
seeks comments on the document A Preliminary Update from the Internet 
of Things Federal Working Group (Preliminary Update). The Preliminary 
Update was developed from input from the Federal Working Group and 
public information presented at the NIST IoT Advisory Board. It is 
intended to document the current state of the IoT Federal Working 
Group's approach to addressing the reporting requirements in the 
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283).

DATES:  Comments in response to this notice must be received by 5:00 
p.m. Eastern time on September 25, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to Barbara 
Cuthill, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau 
Drive, Stop 2000, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Electronic submissions may be 
sent to [email protected], and may be in any of

[[Page 57938]]

the following formats: HTML, ASCII, Word, RTF, or PDF.
    The Preliminary Update is available electronically from the NIST 
website at: IoT Federal Working Group [bond] NIST.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, 
contact: Barbara Cuthill, U.S. Department of Commerce, NIST, MS 2000, 
100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, telephone (301) 975-3273, 
email [email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Public 
Affairs Office at (301) 975-NIST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January, 2020, the Congress enacted the 
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283). Section 9204(b)(5) of this act 
established the Internet of Things Federal Working Group (IoTFWG) with 
NIST as the convenor of the working group. The specific duties assigned 
to the IoTFWG are:
    Duties.--The working group shall--
    (A) 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;
    (B) consider policies or programs that encourage and improve 
coordination among Federal agencies that have responsibilities that are 
relevant to the objectives of this section;
    (C) consider any findings or recommendations made by the IoT 
Advisory Board and, where appropriate, act to implement those 
recommendations;
    (D) examine--
    (i) how Federal agencies can benefit from utilizing the Internet of 
Things;
    (ii) the use of Internet of Things technology by Federal agencies 
as of the date on which the working group performs the examination;
    (iii) 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
    (iv) 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
    (E) in carrying out the examinations required under subclauses (I) 
and (II) of subparagraph (D)(iv), 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.
    The Preliminary Update as presented, is intended to obtain broad 
comments and feedback to help the IoTFWG build recommendations for 
future federal actions to encourage the development and deployment of 
the Internet of Things.

Request for Comments

    NIST seeks public comments on the Preliminary Update electronically 
from the NIST website at: IoT Federal Working Group [bond] NIST. 
Written comments may be submitted by mail to Barbara Cuthill, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2000, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Electronic submissions may be sent to 
[email protected] .
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b), (c), & (e); 15 U.S.C. 278g-3.

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2023-18251 Filed 8-23-23; 8:45 am]
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