I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1648 
To establish a grant program for use of ‘‘internet of things’’ technologies 
in airports, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 17, 2023 
Mr. NEHLS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program for use of ‘‘internet of things’’ 
technologies in airports, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Airport Technology 
and Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF SENSOR PROJECTS FOR AIRPORT 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
Section 47119(a)(1)(B)(ii) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘cameras’’ and inserting 
‘‘sensors with the capability to detect travelers for security 
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purposes, such as cameras and Light Detection and Rang-
ing (commonly known as ‘LiDAR’),’’. 
SEC. 3. NON-MOVEMENT AREA SURVEILLANCE SURFACE 
DISPLAY SYSTEMS PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) INCREASE
IN NUMBER
OF ELIGIBLE SPON-
SORS.—Section 47143(b)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘5 eligible sponsors’’ and 
inserting ‘‘10 eligible sponsors’’. 
(b) PRIORITY FOR LOW-LIGHT SENSORS.—Section 
47143(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In making grants under the 
pilot program, the Administrator shall prioritize 
projects utilizing sensors that in low-light and de-
graded visual conditions can categorize and distin-
guish between humans, animals, and other objects.’’. 
(c) CHANGE OF SUNSET DATE.—Section 47143(c) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Oc-
tober 1, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2028’’. 
SEC. 4. SMART AIRPORTS PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subchapter I of chapter 471 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
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‘‘§ 47145. Smart airports pilot program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall establish and carry out 
a pilot program (in this section referred to as the ‘Pro-
gram’) to support the acquisition and installation of ‘inter-
net of things’ technologies by airports to create a more 
consumer-friendly and digitally connected airport experi-
ence. Under the Program, the Administrator shall make 
grants, on a competitive basis, to airports to carry out eli-
gible projects described in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The Administrator may 
make a grant under the Program only for a project that 
facilitates the acquisition and installation by an airport 
of sensor systems, software, passenger signals, or other 
technologies consistent with the purposes of the Program, 
including projects that facilitate— 
‘‘(1) the modernization of technologies to pro-
vide more efficient check-ins, shortened security 
lines, and Wi-Fi and GPS upgrades, as well as im-
provements of aircraft turnaround times for on-time 
boarding and flights; and 
‘‘(2) the acquisition of sensors and software 
systems with the ability to provide efficiency gains in 
airports, including shortening wait times and im-
proving traveler experience through smart signals in 
parking garages, security lines, or airport commerce. 
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