IoT Federal Working Group

Overview

In January, 2020, the Congress enacted the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law No. 116-283). Section 9204(b)(5) of this act established the Internet of Things Federal Working Group with NIST as the convenor of the working group. ITL and CTL took responsibility for the day to day work of supporting the Federal Working Group. Invitations went out to federal organizations and the group began meeting in January, 2021.

Duties

Duties.—The working group shall—

(A) identify any Federal regulations, statutes, grant practices, budgetary or jurisdictional challenges, and other sector-specific policies that are inhibiting, or could inhibit, the development or deployment of the Internet of Things;

(B) consider policies or programs that encourage and improve coordination among Federal agencies that have responsibilities that are relevant to the objectives of this section;

(C) consider any findings or recommendations made by the IoT Advisory Board and, where appropriate, act to implement those recommendations;

(D) examine—

(i) how Federal agencies can benefit from utilizing the Internet of Things;

(ii) the use of Internet of Things technology by Federal agencies as of the date on which the working group performs the examination;

(iii) the preparedness and ability of Federal agencies to adopt Internet of Things technology as of the date on which the working group performs the examination and in the future; and

(iv) any additional security measures that Federal agencies may need to take to—

(I) safely and securely use the Internet of Things, including measures that ensure the security of critical infrastructure; and

(II) enhance the resiliency of Federal systems against cyber threats to the Internet of Things; and

(E) in carrying out the examinations required under subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (D)(iv), ensure to the maximum extent possible the coordination of the current and future activities of the Federal Government relating to security with respect to the Internet of Things.

IoT FWG Preliminary Update - July, 2023

The IoT Federal Working Group has issued this Preliminary Update and invites public comments on the ideas discussed in this paper per Federal Register Notice :: A Preliminary Update From the Internet of Things Federal Working Group. Comments are due by September 25, 2023. 

Comments for the IoT Federal Working Group can be emailed to IoTFWG [at] nist.gov (IoTFWG[at]nist[dot]gov)