(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
(3) STEERING COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘steer-
ing committee’’ means the steering committee estab-
lished 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 re-
lating 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 or deploy-
ment of the Internet of Things; 
(2) identify any Federal regulations, statutes, 
and activities that have benefitted or could benefit 
the development or deployment of the Internet of 
Things; 
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(3) consider policies or programs that encour-
age and improve coordination among Federal agen-
cies that have responsibilities that are relevant to 
the objectives of this Act; 
(4) consider any findings or recommendations 
made by the steering committee and, where appro-
priate, act to implement those recommendations; 
(5) 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 on 
which the working group performs the examina-
tion; 
(C) the preparedness and ability of Federal 
agencies to adopt Internet of Things technology 
as of the date on which the working group per-
forms 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 Inter-
net of Things, including measures that en-
sure the security of critical infrastructure; 
and 
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(ii) enhance the resiliency of Federal 
systems against cyber threats to the Inter-
net of Things; 
(6) in carrying out the examinations required 
under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (5)(D), en-
sure to the maximum extent possible the coordina-
tion of the current and future activities of the Fed-
eral Government relating to security with respect to 
the Internet of Things; and 
(7) examine any additional security measures 
that Federal agencies may need to take to protect 
users of Internet of Things technology, especially 
members of more vulnerable populations (including 
children and older individuals). 
(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 specifi-
cally 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 
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(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 Commis-
sion. 
(d) 
NONGOVERNMENTAL
STAKEHOLDERS.—The 
working group shall consult with nongovernmental stake-
holders with expertise relating to the Internet of Things, 
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 transportation, energy, agriculture, and health 
care sectors; 
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(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 com-
mittee to advise the working group. 
(2) DUTIES.—The steering committee shall ad-
vise the working group with respect to— 
(A) the identification of any Federal regu-
lations, statutes, grant practices, budgetary or 
jurisdictional challenges, and other sector-spe-
cific policies that are inhibiting, or could in-
hibit, the development or deployment of the 
Internet of Things; 
(B) the identification of any Federal regu-
lations, statutes, and activities that have bene-
fitted or could benefit the development or de-
ployment of the Internet of Things; 
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(C) 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 tech-
nologies; 
(ii) augmented logistics and supply 
chains; 
(iii) sustainable infrastructure; 
(iv) precision agriculture; 
(v) environmental monitoring; 
(vi) public safety; and 
(vii) health care; 
(D) policies, programs, or multi-stake-
holder activities that— 
(i) promote or are related to the pri-
vacy of users of Internet of Things tech-
nology, especially members of more vulner-
able populations (including children and 
older individuals); 
(ii) may enhance the security of the 
Internet of Things, including the security 
of critical infrastructure; 
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(iii) may protect users of the Internet 
of Things, especially members of more vul-
nerable populations (including children and 
older individuals); and 
(iv) 
may 
encourage 
coordination 
among Federal agencies with jurisdiction 
over the Internet of Things; 
(E) the opportunities and challenges asso-
ciated with the use of Internet of Things tech-
nology by small businesses; and 
(F) 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, 
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including the transportation, energy, agri-
culture, 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 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 those suggestions into consideration 
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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. 
(6) NO
COMPENSATION
FOR
MEMBERS.—A 
member of the steering committee shall serve with-
out 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 in-
cludes— 
(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, with respect to each 
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recommendation made by the steering com-
mittee in the report submitted under subsection 
(e)(4); and 
(D) an accounting of any progress made 
by Federal agencies to implement recommenda-
tions made by the working group or the steer-
ing committee. 
(2) COPY
OF
REPORT.—The working group 
shall submit a copy of the report described in para-
graph (1) to— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 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 pub-
lic 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. 
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(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 de-
mand with respect to the Internet of Things; 
(3) what regulatory barriers may exist to pro-
viding 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, the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives, and each member of the 
working group a report that summarizes the comments 
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submitted in response to the notice of inquiry issued under 
subsection (a). 
Æ 
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