I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 686 
To ensure appropriate spectrum planning and interagency coordination to 
support the Internet of Things. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 24, 2017 
Mr. PAULSEN (for himself and Mr. WELCH) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To ensure appropriate spectrum planning and interagency 
coordination to support the Internet of Things. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 ‘‘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; 
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(2) 
estimates 
indicate 
that 
more 
than 
50,000,000,000 devices will be connected to the 
Internet by the year 2020; 
(3) the Internet of Things has the potential to 
generate trillions of dollars in new economic activity 
around the world; 
(4) businesses across the United States can de-
velop new services and products, improve operations, 
simplify logistics, cut costs, and pass savings on to 
consumers by utilizing the Internet of Things and 
related innovations; 
(5) the United States leads the world in the de-
velopment of technologies that support the Internet 
and the United States technology sector is well-posi-
tioned to lead in the development of technologies for 
the Internet of Things; 
(6) the United States Government can imple-
ment this technology to better deliver services to the 
public; and 
(7) the United States 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. 
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(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that policies governing the Internet of Things should 
maximize the potential and development of the Internet 
of Things to benefit all stakeholders, including businesses, 
governments, and consumers. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
(4) STEERING COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘steer-
ing committee’’ means the steering committee estab-
lished under section 4(e)(1). 
(5) WORKING
GROUP.—The term ‘‘working 
group’’ means the working group convened under 
section 4(a). 
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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 re-
lated 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 chal-
lenges, and other sector-specific policies that are in-
hibiting or could inhibit the development of the 
Internet of Things; 
(2) consider policies or programs that encour-
age and improve coordination among Federal agen-
cies with jurisdiction over the Internet of Things; 
(3) consider any findings or recommendations 
made by the steering committee and, where appro-
priate, act to implement those recommendations; and 
(4) examine— 
(A) how Federal agencies can benefit from 
utilizing the Internet of Things; 
(B) the use of Internet of Things tech-
nology by Federal agencies as of the date the 
working group performs the examination; 
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(C) the preparedness and ability of Federal 
agencies to adopt Internet of Things technology 
in the future; and 
(D) any additional security measures that 
Federal agencies may need to take to— 
(i) safely and securely use the Inter-
net of Things; and 
(ii) enhance the resiliency of Federal 
systems against cyber threats to the Inter-
net of Things. 
(c) AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES.—In convening the 
working group under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
have discretion to appoint representatives and shall spe-
cifically 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; 
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(6) the Commission; 
(7) the Federal Trade Commission; 
(8) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; 
and 
(9) the Department of Energy. 
(d) 
NONGOVERNMENTAL
STAKEHOLDERS.—The 
working group shall consult with nongovernmental stake-
holders, including— 
(1) the steering committee; 
(2) information and communications technology 
manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and ven-
dors; 
(3) subject matter experts representing indus-
trial sectors other than the technology sector that 
can benefit from the Internet of Things, including 
the agriculture and health care sectors; 
(4) small, medium, and large businesses; 
(5) think tanks and academia; 
(6) nonprofits and consumer groups; 
(7) rural stakeholders; and 
(8) other stakeholders with relevant expertise, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(e) STEERING COMMITTEE.— 
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(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 
within the Department of Commerce a steering com-
mittee to advise the working group. 
(2) DUTIES.—The steering committee shall ad-
vise the working group with regard to— 
(A) the identification of any Federal regu-
lations, 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) 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; 
(C) policies or programs that— 
(i) promote or are related to the pri-
vacy of individuals who use or are affected 
by the Internet of Things; 
(ii) may enhance the security of the 
Internet of Things; 
(iii) may protect users of the Internet 
of Things; and 
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(iv) 
may 
encourage 
coordination 
among Federal agencies with jurisdiction 
over the Internet of Things; 
(D) the opportunities and challenges asso-
ciated with the use of Internet of Things tech-
nology by small businesses; and 
(E) any international proceeding, inter-
national negotiation, or other international mat-
ter 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 tech-
nology manufacturers, suppliers, service pro-
viders, and vendors; 
(B) subject matter experts representing in-
dustrial sectors other than the technology sector 
that can benefit from the Internet of Things, 
including the agriculture and health care sec-
tors; 
(C) small, medium, and large businesses; 
(D) think tanks and academia; 
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(E) nonprofit organizations and consumer 
groups; 
(F) rural stakeholders; and 
(G) other stakeholders with relevant exper-
tise, as determined by the Secretary. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the steering com-
mittee 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 com-
mittee 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 such suggestions into consideration in 
carrying out the duties of the steering com-
mittee. 
(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. 
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(6) TERMINATION.—The steering committee 
shall terminate on the date on which the working 
group submits the report under subsection (f) un-
less, 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 the appropriate committees of 
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 re-
port was received by the working group; 
(C) recommendations for action or reasons 
for inaction, as applicable, on each rec-
ommendation 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 recommenda-
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tions made by the working group or the steer-
ing committee. 
(2) COPY OF REPORT.—Any committee of Con-
gress, upon request, may obtain a copy of the report 
submitted under paragraph (1). 
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 pub-
lic comment on the current, as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, and future spectrum needs of 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 to 
support the growing Internet of Things; 
(2) what regulatory barriers may exist to pro-
viding any needed spectrum for the Internet of 
Things; and 
(3) what the role of licensed and unlicensed 
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 
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the appropriate committees of Congress a report summa-
rizing the comments submitted in response to the notice 
of inquiry issued under subsection (a). 
Æ 
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