NIST Report and Recommendations on Fostering Development of the Internet of Things

On October 22, the National Institute of Standards and Technology ("NIST") Internet of Things ("IoT") Advisory Board released the Internet of Things Advisory Board Report, which concludes that IoT development has progressed more slowly than anticipated and identifies 26 findings that explain the slower pace of development and growth. The Report offers 104 recommendations on how the government can help foster IoT development. The Advisory Board provided this report to the IoT Federal Working Group emphasizing that an IoT transformation will boost U.S. economic growth, increase public safety and national resilience, create a more sustainable planet, individualize healthcare, foster equitable quality of life and well-being, and facilitate autonomous operations of our national infrastructure. For background, the IoT Federal Working Group was established by Congress in 2020 and was charged with identifying policies and statutes inhibiting IoT development and consider recommendations of the Advisory Board.

The Findings: Although IoT was previously projected to produce up to $216 trillion in value for the global economy, the Report concludes that IoT growth has slowed. The Report identified 26 findings as to why IoT innovation has failed to reach projected goals. Key findings include:

• Insufficient numbers of skilled workers are available to develop, integrate, deploy, operate, and maintain IoT devices, systems, and applications.
• Establishing trust in IoT requires a multi-dimensional ecosystem perspective, extending beyond cybersecurity and privacy.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is critical to unlocking and accelerating the value of IoT, but significant challenges must be addressed.
• Equity in access, opportunities, benefits, and outcomes is necessary for the sustainable integration of IoT into all aspects of the national economy and civil society.

The Recommendations: The Report identifies 104 recommendations grouped into categories to help foster IoT development once again reiterating the underlying premise that IoT transformation will boost U.S. economic growth, public safety, and national resilience, among other benefits. Key recommendations offered by the Report include:

• Unlock the IoT Enabled Economy: The Report emphasized that the Executive Branch should encourage businesses to adopt IoT technologies in their supply chain operations by reducing initial investment costs and perceived risks associated with the implementation of IoT solutions.
• Facilitate Adoption: The Report suggested that Government actors can remove barriers to IoT considerations and adoption by focusing on interoperability.
• Modernize Infrastructure: The Report encouraged Congress and the Executive Branch to collaborate with industry, academic, and public sector partners to enhance and modernize the infrastructure that enables IoT.
• Establish Trust: According to the Report, establishing trust in IoT is crucial for widespread adoption and public confidence. Among other things, the Report suggests that trust can be established through secure and reliable IoT operation, as well as accurate and explainable use of algorithms.

Create an IoT-Ready Workforce: In order to foster workforce development and empowerment, the report recommended that Congress and local governments collaborate with industry, academia, and state and local governments to align educational and training efforts with the evolving demands of the IoT sector, which will help ensure a well-prepared and adaptable workforce.