WASHINGTON—Today the Center for Data Innovation welcomed the re-introduction of the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act by U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The bill would convene a working group of federal entities and private sector stakeholders tasked with providing recommendations to Congress on how to facilitate the growth of connected Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The Center issued the following statement from director Daniel Castro:
The Internet of Things produces myriad economic and social benefits, and the bipartisan DIGIT Act would ensure the United States seizes all of the opportunities the technology has to offer. The Internet of Things is still in its early stages of development and deployment, but it is advancing rapidly. The DIGIT Act’s working group and steering committee will address some of the most pressing challenges facing the Internet of Things, such as facilitating its adoption within federal agencies and identifying spectrum needs, both of which market forces alone cannot readily overcome. With the Secretary of Commerce at the helm, the working group promises to help the United States capitalize on the enormous benefits the Internet of Things will offer.
The findings of this working group will provide policymakers the necessary framework to craft a national strategy for the Internet of Things, which would make the United States more competitive and ensure it is positioned to take full advantage of the technology. A national strategy would ensure the Internet of Things develops cohesively, that consumers and businesses do not face barriers to adoption, and that the public and private sectors can take full advantage of the opportunities the technology can create. If the United States gets its national strategy right, there is simply no telling the scope of the benefits it can provide.
