What This Bill Does
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (a federal agency that regulates communications) to collect and track information about how many Internet of Things devices and 5G mobile network devices are being used in the United States. The FCC will use this information to figure out how much electromagnetic spectrum (the airwaves used for wireless communication) will be needed to support these devices. The FCC must report to Congress every two years about what it finds.
Who It Affects
The Federal Communications Commission and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information are directly responsible for carrying out this bill's requirements.
Key Provisions
• The FCC must collect and maintain data on the growth of Internet of Things devices and 5G mobile network devices to determine how much electromagnetic spectrum is needed to meet demand from these devices (Sec. 3(a))
• The FCC must submit a report to Congress no later than 180 days after the bill becomes law, and then at least every two years, containing data collected under the bill (Sec. 3(b))
• Each report must state how much electromagnetic spectrum is required to meet current demand and whether enough spectrum is available right now (Sec. 3(b)(1))
• Each report must determine if growth is expected in Internet of Things or 5G devices and, if so, how much additional spectrum will be needed for that future growth (Sec. 3(b)(2))
What Changes
The FCC will begin collecting and publishing regular reports about Internet of Things and 5G device usage and related spectrum needs. This tracking and reporting does not currently occur.
Important Definitions
Internet of Things device: A device that uses a network to communicate and share data with other devices.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 904
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to collect and maintain
data on the growth in the use of Internet of Things devices and devices
that use 5G mobile networks in order to determine the amount of
electromagnetic spectrum required to meet the demand created by such
use, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Ms. DELBENE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to collect
and maintain data on the growth in the use of Internet
of Things devices and devices that use 5G mobile net-
works in order to determine the amount of electro-
magnetic spectrum required to meet the demand created
by such use, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘IoT Readiness Act of
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2023’’.
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•HR 904 IH
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
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It is the sense of Congress that—
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(1) Internet of Things device usage is a critical
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component of the United States economy;
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(2) Internet of Things device usage will con-
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tinue to grow exponentially, and United States infra-
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structure needs to be prepared for that growth;
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(3) in order for the Federal Government to
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properly address spectrum requirements, Congress
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needs to understand the full scope of future spec-
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trum demand; and
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(4) the United States should further prepare its
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infrastructure with comprehensive spectrum plan-
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ning.
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SEC. 3. TRACKING OF GROWTH OF INTERNET OF THINGS
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AND 5G DEVICES BY FCC.
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(a) COLLECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF DATA.—
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The Commission shall collect and maintain data on the
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growth in the use of Internet of Things devices and devices
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that use 5G mobile networks in order to determine the
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amount of electromagnetic spectrum required to meet the
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demand created by such use.
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(b) BIENNIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later
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than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
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and not less frequently than every 2 years thereafter, the
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Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the data
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•HR 904 IH
collected and maintained under subsection (a). Such re-
1
port shall contain—
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(1) a determination by the Commission of the
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amount of electromagnetic spectrum required to
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meet the demand created by Internet of Things de-
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vices and devices that use 5G mobile networks and
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whether sufficient spectrum is available as of the
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date of such report to meet such demand; and
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(2) a determination by the Commission of—
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(A) whether any growth is anticipated in
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the use of Internet of Things devices or devices
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that use 5G mobile networks; and
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(B) if such growth is anticipated, the
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amount of spectrum needed to meet the future
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demand created by such growth.
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SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
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In this Act:
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(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
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means the Federal Communications Commission, in
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consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Com-
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merce for Communications and Information.
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(2) INTERNET OF THINGS DEVICE.—The term
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‘‘Internet of Things device’’means a device that uses
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•HR 904 IH
a network to communicate and share data with other
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devices.
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Æ
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