Wiley Rein Supports U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation, in Comments on NTIA ‘Internet of Things’ Inquiry

June 6, 2016

Washington, DC—Wiley Rein is serving as counsel to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation (CATI) in the National Telecommunications & Information Administration’s (NTIA) inquiry regarding the Internet of Things (IoT). The Chamber’s June 2 comments in the proceeding can be found here. The Chamber’s executive summary of the comments can be found here.

Megan L Brown, a partner in the firm’s Telecom, Media & Technology Practice, and Umair Javed, an associate in the Practice, submitted the comments to NTIA on behalf of CATI. In the comments, the Chamber urged NTIA to approach IoT issues through a multi-stakeholder process.

The Chamber also recommended steps to help policymakers promote IoT while appropriately addressing challenges and ensuring broader goals. “IoT represents the next evolution of the Internet and mobility,” the Chamber said in the comments. “Much like the Internet’s earlier phases, IoT will flourish under a flexible, non-regulatory policy regime.”

NTIA should promote “regulatory humility” to ensure that regulators do not inadvertently hinder IoT development, the Chamber added.

Amanda Eversole, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation, has previously observed, “We must take a sophisticated, supportive, and long-term approach to fostering our connected future. If we impose poorly conceived policies or other unnecessary restrictions on this new innovative frontier, not only will we limit our own future opportunities in this global marketplace, but we will also see our competitors reap the rewards.”