Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at a Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing on “Internet of Things Legislation:"
Today’s hearing, on the draft “SMART I-o-T Act," is the next step in this Subcommittee’s review of new and evolving technological development. I commend Chairman Latta and Representative Welch for working together over the last several years to explore and learn how the Internet of Things or I-o-T can enrich our lives, help us be more efficient, and grow the U.S. economy.
Today, more and more people have multiple internet-connected devices in their homes-things like thermostats, vacuums, and digital personal assistants. And more and more people are wearing internet-connected devices such as fitness trackers.
But I-o-T is not limited to consumer products. Connected devices of all kinds are used in practically every industry sector, like manufacturing, agriculture, and medicine. We have learned about drones that fly into dangerous areas to assess hazards, sensors helping farmers understand the topography and acidity of their land, and doctors receiving real time data from monitors so that patients in remote areas do not have to travel for daily appointments.
Today, we are considering a bipartisan draft bill that would direct the Department of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive study and report on the Internet of Things. Commerce will survey the industry sectors that make internet-connected devices as well as all industry sectors that use those devices.
The study will also look at how the federal government oversees the use and development of connected devices-which agencies deal with the Internet of Things, what expertise those agencies have, and which entities those agencies interact with. And the study will identify government resources available to consumers and small businesses to help them evaluate connected devices.
The report will provide a one-stop source on how businesses are integrating connectivity and how the federal government is helping the country adapt to this age of connectivity.
Federal and local government agencies could also use the report to better coordinate their work, and I hope the study will encourage them to do so.
Any report will be a snapshot in time. But given the integration of IoT into all parts of our lives and the global economy, the report will provide a jumping off point for more work.
I would certainly like to see cybersecurity issues given more emphasis when we look at IoT. Throughout our review, cybersecurity was the issue that came up most often. Cybersecurity is imperative to keeping ourselves and our country safe from malicious actors.
I know some stakeholders have asked that cybersecurity be specifically called out in this study. I would support such a change. But whether it’s made part of the study required by this bill or not, Congress must take action to ensure that strong cybersecurity and data security are fundamental to I-o-T.
I’m glad that this Subcommittee is working on this bipartisan legislation. Thank you and I yield the balance of my time.
