Rapid IoT Changes Need Light Regulatory Touch, Industry, Government Officials Say
Spectrum availability, cybersecurity and interoperability are some of the critical issues for Congress as it helps further IoT development, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., who spoke Wednesday at a Wiley Rein-McBee Strategic policy roundtable on regulating IoT, which, by some estimates, will grow to 20 to 30 billion connected devices by 2020. The discussions also included several industry and government representatives, who generally spoke about IoT benefits but also cited concerns about privacy and security and the need for a light regulatory touch so innovation isn't stifled in this area.
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DelBene said she and her Congressional Caucus on the Internet of Things co-chair, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., (see 1501130038) asked the GAO to study "what we need to do to meet this spectrum demand in the IoT era." She said she's also a member of the House working group on encryption, creation of which was spurred by the legal fight between the FBI and Apple over getting access to locked iPhones in law enforcement investigations (see 1603210061). "I will definitely work hard to ensure that companies are not forced to weaken devices by having back doors to access information because we know that bad actors can take advantage of those back doors," she said.
When Congress looks at IoT implementation, DelBene said it's also important to look at interoperability and ensuring standards are there to make it work. She said it's important for cities to implement such technologies by making wise investments that show a return. "Traditionally, technology has always been thought of as nice to have. Now it's a must-have," she said. "I think we have to think of technology as basic infrastructure."
There are some regulatory IoT challenges, but they vary from sector to sector, said Jeffrey Weiss, the Department of Commerce's senior adviser-standards and global regulatory policy. For instance, he said "smart fabrics" -- which include electronics embedded in shirts that can be used to monitor an individual's health -- bring up regulatory issues about "washability" and durability in whether the electronics work effectively. He said issues could involve security if a hacker gets access and can change the health results, and whether the electronics interferes with an individual's pacemaker, for example. Weiss said ports could take advantage of IoT to create more efficient operations, but that involves numerous stakeholders -- such as port authorities, shippers, truckers, labor unions, importers and exporters -- to create a common IT platform. He said Commerce, which has no regulatory authority there, is working with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as a convener to help them work through various issues.
Weiss said NTIA extended an IoT-related request for comment deadline to June 2 (see 1604060030). The government is seeking information about the benefits, challenges and its role in boosting IoT growth. Officials also pointed to congressional legislation designed to help grow IoT (see 1604270025). Industry and government officials said that because the technology is changing so rapidly, agencies should provide a light touch when it comes to regulation. They also sought more collaboration between the private and public sectors.