II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1611 

To ensure appropriate prioritization, spectrum planning, and interagency 

coordination to support the Internet of Things. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 22, 2019 

Mrs. FISCHER (for herself, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. GARDNER, and Mr. BOOKER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To ensure appropriate prioritization, spectrum planning, and 

interagency coordination to support the Internet of Things. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Developing Innovation 

5 and Growing the Internet of Things Act’’ or the ‘‘DIGIT 

6 Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

8 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

9 (1) the Internet of Things refers to the growing 

10 number of connected and interconnected devices; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•S 1611 IS

1 (2) estimates indicate that more than 

2 125,000,000,000 devices will be connected to the 

3 internet by 2030; 

4 (3) the Internet of Things has the potential to 

5 generate trillions of dollars in new economic activity 

6 around the world in the transportation, energy, agri7 culture, manufacturing, and health care sectors and 

8 in other sectors that are critical to the growth of the 

9 gross domestic product of the United States; 

10 (4) businesses across the United States can de11 velop new services and products, improve the effi12 ciency of operations and logistics, cut costs, improve 

13 worker and public safety, and pass savings on to 

14 consumers by utilizing the Internet of Things and 

15 related innovations; 

16 (5) the Internet of Things will— 

17 (A) be vital in furthering innovation and 

18 the development of emerging technologies; and 

19 (B) play a key role in developing artificial 

20 intelligence and advanced computing capabili21 ties; 

22 (6) the United States leads the world in the de23 velopment of technologies that support the internet, 

24 the United States technology sector is well-posi25 tioned to lead in the development of technologies for 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•S 1611 IS

1 the Internet of Things, and the appropriate 

2 prioritization of a national strategy with respect to 

3 the Internet of Things would strengthen that posi4 tion; 

5 (7) the Federal Government can implement this 

6 technology to better deliver services to the public; 

7 and 

8 (8) the Senate unanimously passed Senate Res9 olution 110, 114th Congress, agreed to March 24, 

10 2015, calling for a national strategy for the develop11 ment of the Internet of Things. 

12 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con13 gress that policies governing the Internet of Things 

14 should— 

15 (1) promote solutions with respect to the Inter16 net of Things that are secure, scalable, interoper17 able, industry-driven, and standards-based; and 

18 (2) maximize the development and deployment 

19 of the Internet of Things to benefit all stakeholders, 

20 including businesses, governments, and consumers. 

21 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

22 In this Act: 

23 (1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

24 means the Federal Communications Commission. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•S 1611 IS

1 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of Commerce. 

3 (3) STEERING COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘steer4 ing committee’’ means the steering committee estab5 lished under section 4(e)(1). 

6 (4) WORKING GROUP.—The term ‘‘working 

7 group’’ means the working group convened under 

8 section 4(a). 

9 SEC. 4. FEDERAL WORKING GROUP. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall convene a 

11 working group of Federal stakeholders for the purpose of 

12 providing recommendations and a report to Congress re13 lating to the aspects of the Internet of Things described 

14 in subsection (b). 

15 (b) DUTIES.—The working group shall— 

16 (1) identify any Federal regulations, statutes, 

17 grant practices, budgetary or jurisdictional chal18 lenges, and other sector-specific policies that are in19 hibiting, or could inhibit, the development or deploy20 ment of the Internet of Things; 

21 (2) consider policies or programs that encour22 age and improve coordination among Federal agen23 cies that have responsibilities that are relevant to 

24 the objectives of this Act; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
5 

•S 1611 IS

1 (3) consider any findings or recommendations 

2 made by the steering committee and, where appro3 priate, act to implement those recommendations; 

4 (4) examine— 

5 (A) how Federal agencies can benefit from 

6 utilizing the Internet of Things; 

7 (B) the use of Internet of Things tech8 nology by Federal agencies as of the date on 

9 which the working group performs the examina10 tion; 

11 (C) the preparedness and ability of Federal 

12 agencies to adopt Internet of Things technology 

13 as of the date on which the working group per14 forms the examination and in the future; and 

15 (D) any additional security measures that 

16 Federal agencies may need to take to— 

17 (i) safely and securely use the Inter18 net of Things, including measures that en19 sure the security of critical infrastructure; 

20 and 

21 (ii) enhance the resiliency of Federal 

22 systems against cyber threats to the Inter23 net of Things; and 

24 (5) in carrying out the examinations required 

25 under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (4)(D), enVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:49 May 31, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1611.IS S1611

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
6 

•S 1611 IS

1 sure to the maximum extent possible the coordina2 tion of the current and future activities of the Fed3 eral Government relating to security with respect to 

4 the Internet of Things. 

5 (c) AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES.—In convening the 

6 working group under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

7 have discretion to appoint representatives from Federal 

8 agencies and departments as appropriate and shall specifi9 cally consider seeking representation from— 

10 (1) the Department of Commerce, including— 

11 (A) the National Telecommunications and 

12 Information Administration; 

13 (B) the National Institute of Standards 

14 and Technology; and 

15 (C) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

16 Administration; 

17 (2) the Department of Transportation; 

18 (3) the Department of Homeland Security; 

19 (4) the Office of Management and Budget; 

20 (5) the National Science Foundation; 

21 (6) the Commission; 

22 (7) the Federal Trade Commission; 

23 (8) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; 

24 (9) the Department of Energy; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
7 

•S 1611 IS

1 (10) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commis2 sion. 

3 (d) NONGOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS.—The 

4 working group shall consult with nongovernmental stake5 holders with expertise relating to the Internet of Things, 

6 including— 

7 (1) the steering committee; 

8 (2) information and communications technology 

9 manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and ven10 dors; 

11 (3) subject matter experts representing indus12 trial sectors other than the technology sector that 

13 can benefit from the Internet of Things, including 

14 the transportation, energy, agriculture, and health 

15 care sectors; 

16 (4) small, medium, and large businesses; 

17 (5) think tanks and academia; 

18 (6) nonprofit organizations and consumer 

19 groups; 

20 (7) security experts; 

21 (8) rural stakeholders; and 

22 (9) other stakeholders with relevant expertise, 

23 as determined by the Secretary. 

24 (e) STEERING COMMITTEE.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
8 

•S 1611 IS

1 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 

2 within the Department of Commerce a steering com3 mittee to advise the working group. 

4 (2) DUTIES.—The steering committee shall ad5 vise the working group with respect to— 

6 (A) the identification of any Federal regu7 lations, statutes, grant practices, programs, 

8 budgetary or jurisdictional challenges, and 

9 other sector-specific policies that are inhibiting, 

10 or could inhibit, the development of the Internet 

11 of Things; 

12 (B) situations in which the use of the 

13 Internet of Things is likely to deliver significant 

14 and scalable economic and societal benefits to 

15 the United States, including benefits from or 

16 to— 

17 (i) smart traffic and transit tech18 nologies; 

19 (ii) augmented logistics and supply 

20 chains; 

21 (iii) sustainable infrastructure; 

22 (iv) precision agriculture; 

23 (v) environmental monitoring; 

24 (vi) public safety; and 

25 (vii) health care; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
9 

•S 1611 IS

1 (C) whether adequate spectrum is available 

2 to support the growing Internet of Things and 

3 what legal or regulatory barriers may exist to 

4 providing any spectrum needed in the future; 

5 (D) policies, programs, or multi-stake6 holder activities that— 

7 (i) promote or are related to the pri8 vacy of individuals who use or are affected 

9 by the Internet of Things; 

10 (ii) may enhance the security of the 

11 Internet of Things, including the security 

12 of critical infrastructure; 

13 (iii) may protect users of the Internet 

14 of Things; and 

15 (iv) may encourage coordination 

16 among Federal agencies with jurisdiction 

17 over the Internet of Things; 

18 (E) the opportunities and challenges asso19 ciated with the use of Internet of Things tech20 nology by small businesses; and 

21 (F) any international proceeding, inter22 national negotiation, or other international mat23 ter affecting the Internet of Things to which 

24 the United States is or should be a party. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
10 

•S 1611 IS

1 (3) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary shall appoint 

2 to the steering committee members representing a 

3 wide range of stakeholders outside of the Federal 

4 Government with expertise relating to the Internet 

5 of Things, including— 

6 (A) information and communications tech7 nology manufacturers, suppliers, service pro8 viders, and vendors; 

9 (B) subject matter experts representing in10 dustrial sectors other than the technology sector 

11 that can benefit from the Internet of Things, 

12 including the transportation, energy, agri13 culture, and health care sectors; 

14 (C) small, medium, and large businesses; 

15 (D) think tanks and academia; 

16 (E) nonprofit organizations and consumer 

17 groups; 

18 (F) security experts; 

19 (G) rural stakeholders; and 

20 (H) other stakeholders with relevant exper21 tise, as determined by the Secretary. 

22 (4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

23 date of enactment of this Act, the steering com24 mittee shall submit to the working group a report 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
11 

•S 1611 IS

1 that includes any findings or recommendations of 

2 the steering committee. 

3 (5) INDEPENDENT ADVICE.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The steering committee 

5 shall set the agenda of the steering committee 

6 in carrying out the duties of the steering com7 mittee under paragraph (2). 

8 (B) SUGGESTIONS.—The working group 

9 may suggest topics or items for the steering 

10 committee to study, and the steering committee 

11 shall take those suggestions into consideration 

12 in carrying out the duties of the steering com13 mittee. 

14 (C) REPORT.—The steering committee 

15 shall ensure that the report submitted under 

16 paragraph (4) is the result of the independent 

17 judgment of the steering committee. 

18 (6) TERMINATION.—The steering committee 

19 shall terminate on the date on which the working 

20 group submits the report under subsection (f) un21 less, on or before that date, the Secretary files a new 

22 charter for the steering committee under section 9(c) 

23 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

24 App.). 

25 (f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
12 

•S 1611 IS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the working 

3 group shall submit to Congress a report that in4 cludes— 

5 (A) the findings and recommendations of 

6 the working group with respect to the duties of 

7 the working group under subsection (b); 

8 (B) the report submitted by the steering 

9 committee under subsection (e)(4), as the re10 port was received by the working group; 

11 (C) recommendations for action or reasons 

12 for inaction, as applicable, with respect to each 

13 recommendation made by the steering com14 mittee in the report submitted under subsection 

15 (e)(4); and 

16 (D) an accounting of any progress made 

17 by Federal agencies to implement recommenda18 tions made by the working group or the steer19 ing committee. 

20 (2) COPY OF REPORT.—The working group 

21 shall submit a copy of the report described in para22 graph (1) to— 

23 (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

24 and Transportation and the Committee on En25 ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
13 

•S 1611 IS

1 (B) the Committee on Energy and Com2 merce of the House of Representatives; and 

3 (C) any other committee of Congress, upon 

4 request to the working group. 

5 SEC. 5. ASSESSING SPECTRUM NEEDS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, in consultation 

7 with the National Telecommunications and Information 

8 Administration, shall issue a notice of inquiry seeking pub9 lic comment on the current, as of the date of enactment 

10 of this Act, and future spectrum needs to enable better 

11 connectivity relating to the Internet of Things. 

12 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—In issuing the notice of inquiry 

13 under subsection (a), the Commission shall seek comments 

14 that consider and evaluate— 

15 (1) whether adequate spectrum is available, or 

16 is planned for allocation, for commercial wireless 

17 services that could support the growing Internet of 

18 Things; 

19 (2) if adequate spectrum is not available for the 

20 purposes described in paragraph (1), how to ensure 

21 that adequate spectrum is available for increased de22 mand with respect to the Internet of Things; 

23 (3) what regulatory barriers may exist to pro24 viding any needed spectrum that would support uses 

25 relating to the Internet of Things; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
14 

•S 1611 IS

1 (4) what the role of unlicensed and licensed 

2 spectrum is and will be in the growth of the Internet 

3 of Things. 

4 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

5 of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to 

6 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

7 of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Com8 merce of the House of Representatives a report summa9 rizing the comments submitted in response to the notice 

10 of inquiry issued under subsection (a). 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS