WASHINGTON – Today technology industry leaders Intel, Samsung, ITI, SIA and the Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC) released the first-of-its-kind, national Internet of Things (IoT) Strategy. These recommendations will assist Congress and the administration in proactively developing public policies that will allow the United States to fully realize the vast economic and societal benefits of the IoT. The National IoT Strategy Dialogue final report unveiled today will serve as a guide and a measuring stick for the federal government’s adoption of legislation and policies that will position the United States as the global leader for IoT investment, development, and utilization.

“The world is in the midst of a dramatic transformation from isolated systems to Internet-enabled devices that can network and communicate with each other and the cloud,” said Dipti Vachani, vice president of IoT strategy at Intel. “This IoT reality is generating unprecedented opportunities for the U.S. public and private sectors to develop new services, enhance productivity and efficiency, improve real-time decision making, solve critical societal problems, and develop new and innovative user experiences.  Intel looks forward to working with Congress, the Administration and our National IoT Strategy Dialogue partners to advance the policy recommendations in this report.”

“Not since the development of the internet has a technology had more potential to positively impact millions of individuals, businesses and society at large.” said James Stansberry, Senior Vice President and General Manager of ARTIK IoT at Samsung Electronics. “But in order to unleash the full power of the IoT, we must ensure it’s fostered in an environment that prioritizes openness, security, and collaboration between industry leaders and governments. That’s why we’re committed to working with our colleagues in the NISD to advance the recommendations released today, which mark an important first step in establishing the policies needed to drive IoT innovation and bring this critical technology to scale.”

“With this clear strategy, we can harness the internet’s next evolution to tackle our biggest challenges—from curing diseases, to addressing our changing climate, to creating smart cities and transportation systems, and improving the quality of our lives,” said ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield. “Our goal is to present strategic recommendations to the Congress and Administration that are a proactive, enabling vision for Internet of Things technologies to develop and thrive. The IoT promises to usher in a transformational revolution of nearly limitless economic, societal, and commercial opportunities.”

“The IoT has the potential to positively transform virtually every aspect of our lives, from health care to transportation, and semiconductors are a key enabling technology for the IoT,” said John Neuffer, president & CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “To realize the IoT’s tremendous promise, we support collaboration between the government and industry in establishing a framework that will enable continued innovation and growth in this technology. We are pleased to join in the issuance of this report and look forward to participating in the future policy discussions on the IoT.”

“Every day we see more and more life changing benefits of the Internet of Things, from health care and wellness to energy and the environment,” said Tim Day, senior vice president of C_TEC. “This report will help America prioritize a national IoT strategy and position the country to lead in this area going forward. It’s imperative for innovators that we have consistent standards and rules at the federal and international levels that promote global, voluntary, and open industry-led principles, supporting the free flow of information.”

The recommendations call on Congress and the administration to:

  • Adopt a uniform broad-based definition of the IoT.
  • Prioritize a National IoT Strategy by passing the bipartisan Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act.
  • Ensure consistent IoT standards and rules at the federal and international levels, promoting global consensus-based, industry-led standards.
  • Encourage flexible federal policies that promote innovation and best practices for IoT-integrated security, including multi-stakeholder efforts.
  • Prioritize and incentivize the development of “smart” infrastructure.
  • Invest in IoT public-private partnerships, research and testbeds.

Tens of billions of devices will be connected to the IoT by 2020, generating trillions of dollars in value from increasingly intelligent data, new business models and services.  This transformation underscores the need for a US national strategy. The technology industry has been actively engaged with policymakers in advocating an innovative policy environment for the IoT over the past three years. In 2015, Intel, ITI and others started to call for the formation of this national IoT strategy while testifying before Congress and, in 2016, Samsung further iterated that call in Washington.

Read the full report here.