DEPLOY Act Cable broadband operators are cheering the introduction of the Developing Economic Prosperity and Linking Our Youth through Broadband Act (DEPLOY Broadband Act). 

The bill, introduced by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) would appropriate $6.5 billion in emergency funding to the FCC for broadband buildouts in unserved and rural areas and long-term funding for rural broadband via FCC auctions. 

The bill creates a "rural dividend," requiring that at least 10% of revenues from FCC spectrum auctions goes to build out broadband in both unserved and underserved areas, though the bill prioritizes unserved, which is why it passes muster with cable ops leery of government-subsidized overbuilds. 

Legislators on both sides of the aisle have advocated for more money for broadband because distance learning and job seeking and job performing and healthcare are the current new normal and exacerbate the digital divide. 

“This health crisis has laid bare the digital divide that exists in many of our rural communities. It’s estimated that more than 65,000 students in Colorado live in homes without any internet access, roughly eight percent of Colorado’s entire student population,” said Gardner. “That’s not acceptable with so many relying on broadband to receive an education, telecommute, and access healthcare. This legislation will dedicate immediate funding to build out rural broadband in unserved and rural areas throughout Colorado and the country and ensure there is a permanent allocation for rural broadband into the future.” 

“The COVID pandemic has heightened the need to ensure that all Americans can access reliable broadband service and the only way to close the access gap is to focus on areas where broadband service currently does not exist," said NCTA-The Internet & Television Association. "That is why we welcome efforts like the DEPLOY Broadband Act, which ensure that immediate federal resources are directed specifically to building networks in areas that are currently unserved. We applaud Sen. Gardner’s thoughtful approach to this important issue which will make a meaningful difference in connecting more Americans to broadband service.” 

NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, was applauding as well: “NTCA greatly appreciates Senator Gardner’s commitment to advancing broadband deployment in rural America," said CEO Shirley Bloomfied. "This bill would complement existing efforts to expand connectivity in rural communities and provide a steady flow of resources to help the FCC build upon the successes of programs that today promote the deployment and sustainability of rural networks. We thank Sen. Gardner and look forward to working with Congress as it considers initiatives to expand and sustain broadband deployment across America."

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has favorably reported out the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019, a bill that will make sure government IoT devices are as secure as they can be, including by requiring transparency and disclosure from contractors. The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote.  

The bill, introduced in March,  would "require that devices purchased by the U.S. government meet certain minimum security requirements." 

Related: Latta Re-Ups Smart IoT Act 

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), co-chairs of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, as well as Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.). Reps. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Will Hurd (R-Texas) are taking the lead on the bill in the House. 

That version passed out of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform last week, but the Senate bill was broadened in committee to include vendors as well as devices, so they will have to be reconciled. 

Specifically, the bill would: 

· "Require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to issue recommendations addressing, at a minimum, secure development, identity management, patching, and configuration management for IoT devices. 

· "Direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidelines for each agency that are consistent with the NIST recommendations, and charge OMB with reviewing these policies at least every five years. 

· "Require any Internet-connected devices purchased by the federal government to comply with those recommendations. 

· "Direct NIST to work with cybersecurity researchers, industry experts, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish guidance on coordinated vulnerability disclosure to ensure that vulnerabilities related to agency devices are addressed. 

· "Require contractors and vendors providing information systems to the U.S. government to adopt coordinated vulnerability disclosure policies, so that if a vulnerability is uncovered, that can be effectively shared with a vendor for remediation." 

That was fine with NCTA-The Internet & Television Association, whose ISP members are on the front lines of IoT security. 

“Maintaining strong, risk-based cybersecurity standards is paramount for effective business and government operations," it said. "The Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 wisely directs OMB to heed the outcome of a review process currently underway at NIST when making IoT purchasing decisions. The requirements in this bill will have a positive ripple effect throughout the ecosystem since the government is such a large purchaser and user of IoT devices...." 

The bipartisan congressional Internet of Things working group comprising Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has reintroduced the Developing and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act.

The bill was introduced in the last Congress, following up on a resolution that passed the Senate last March that called for a national strategy on IoT.

The bill would "convene a working group of federal entities that would consult with private sector stakeholders to provide recommendations to Congress." Those would include how to encourage the growth of IoT, seeking input from the private sector to help prevent "regulatory silos."

It would also direct the FCC to launch a proceeding on the spectrum needs of IoT.

Congress has estimated that more than 50 billion devices will be connected by 2020 generating billions of dollars in economic opportunity.

The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to convene a working group of federal stakeholders to advise Congress on how to plan and encourage IoT, including spectrum needs and the appropriate regulatory environment for things like consumer protection, privacy and security.

The working group will have to consult with industry stakeholders.

The FCC, in consultation with the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, will have to conduct a study to evaluate what spectrum will be necessary to accommodate that explosion in connected devices, including whether adequate licensed and unlicensed spectrum is available, what role each agency should play in the growth of IoT and what regulatory "barriers" exist.

Daniel Castro, director of the Center for Data Innovation, said the bill puts the country on track to be a global IoT leader.

"By bringing together a broad cross-section of stakeholders in government and industry to shape a national strategy for the Internet of Things, the bipartisan DIGIT Act would put the United States on track to secure the enormous potential benefits this technology has to offer for both the private sector and the public," Castro said. "To make the United States more competitive and seize on all the opportunities from the Internet of Things, this working group should focus broadly on all challenges and opportunities the technology presents."

Competitive Carriers Association president/CEO Steven K. Berry said: “I thank Senators Fischer, Booker, Gardner and Schatz for the bipartisan reintroduction of the DIGIT Act. IoT already plays a major role in the mobile industry, and demand – by consumers and businesses – for these unique services will only continue to increase.  Competitive carriers must have access to 5G technologies to ensure their customers have access to IoT services and to effectively compete with the largest national carriers.”