Federal

Airport Technology and Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 819 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a grant program to help airports buy and install internet of things technologies, which are connected sensor devices that collect and share data. The bill also makes changes to existing airport improvement programs to include new types of sensors for security and surveillance purposes.

Who It Affects

Airports that apply for grants. The Federal Aviation Administration, which runs the grant program. Air travelers who use airports with these new technologies.

Key Provisions

• The Federal Aviation Administration must establish a pilot program to give grants to airports for buying internet of things technologies that improve passenger experience and airport efficiency (Sec. 4(a)). • The grants can be used for projects that speed up check-ins, reduce security line wait times, upgrade Wi-Fi and GPS systems, and improve aircraft boarding times (Sec. 4(a)). • The grants can also be used to buy sensors and software that shorten wait times in parking garages, security lines and airport shops (Sec. 4(a)). • The Administration must give grants to at least five airports, with each airport receiving no more than two million dollars (Sec. 4(a)). • The Administration must prioritize projects that do not collect facial recognition or biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans, etc.) from passengers who are not identified as security threats (Sec. 4(a)).

What Changes

The bill allows light detection and ranging devices, commonly called LiDAR, and other sensors to qualify for existing airport improvement grant funding that previously only included cameras. The bill increases the number of airports eligible for a separate surveillance pilot program from five to ten airports. That surveillance program's deadline moves from October 1, 2023 to October 1, 2028.

Important Definitions

Internet of things: connected devices with sensors that collect and share information electronically. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR): technology that uses light to measure distances and create detailed images. Biometric data: physical characteristics like fingerprints or iris patterns used to identify people.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1648 To establish a grant program for use of ‘‘internet of things’’ technologies in airports, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 17, 2023 Mr. NEHLS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To establish a grant program for use of ‘‘internet of things’’ technologies in airports, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Airport Technology 4 and Efficiency Improvement Act of 2023’’. 5 SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF SENSOR PROJECTS FOR AIRPORT 6 IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 7 Section 47119(a)(1)(B)(ii) of title 49, United States 8 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘cameras’’ and inserting 9 ‘‘sensors with the capability to detect travelers for security 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1648.IH H1648 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 1648 IH purposes, such as cameras and Light Detection and Rang- 1 ing (commonly known as ‘LiDAR’),’’. 2 SEC. 3. NON-MOVEMENT AREA SURVEILLANCE SURFACE 3 DISPLAY SYSTEMS PILOT PROGRAM. 4 (a) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE SPON- 5 SORS.—Section 47143(b)(1) of title 49, United States 6 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘5 eligible sponsors’’ and 7 inserting ‘‘10 eligible sponsors’’. 8 (b) PRIORITY FOR LOW-LIGHT SENSORS.—Section 9 47143(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 10 adding at the end the following: 11 ‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In making grants under the 12 pilot program, the Administrator shall prioritize 13 projects utilizing sensors that in low-light and de- 14 graded visual conditions can categorize and distin- 15 guish between humans, animals, and other objects.’’. 16 (c) CHANGE OF SUNSET DATE.—Section 47143(c) of 17 title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Oc- 18 tober 1, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2028’’. 19 SEC. 4. SMART AIRPORTS PILOT PROGRAM. 20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subchapter I of chapter 471 21 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 22 the end the following: 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1648.IH H1648 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 1648 IH ‘‘§ 47145. Smart airports pilot program 1 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed- 2 eral Aviation Administration shall establish and carry out 3 a pilot program (in this section referred to as the ‘Pro- 4 gram’) to support the acquisition and installation of ‘inter- 5 net of things’ technologies by airports to create a more 6 consumer-friendly and digitally connected airport experi- 7 ence. Under the Program, the Administrator shall make 8 grants, on a competitive basis, to airports to carry out eli- 9 gible projects described in subsection (b). 10 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The Administrator may 11 make a grant under the Program only for a project that 12 facilitates the acquisition and installation by an airport 13 of sensor systems, software, passenger signals, or other 14 technologies consistent with the purposes of the Program, 15 including projects that facilitate— 16 ‘‘(1) the modernization of technologies to pro- 17 vide more efficient check-ins, shortened security 18 lines, and Wi-Fi and GPS upgrades, as well as im- 19 provements of aircraft turnaround times for on-time 20 boarding and flights; and 21 ‘‘(2) the acquisition of sensors and software 22 systems with the ability to provide efficiency gains in 23 airports, including shortening wait times and im- 24 proving traveler experience through smart signals in 25 parking garages, security lines, or airport commerce. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1648.IH H1648 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 1648 IH ‘‘(c) GRANTS.— 1 ‘‘(1) NUMBER.—The Administrator shall seek 2 to make grants under the Program to not fewer 3 than 5 airports. 4 ‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—No grant under the Program 5 may exceed $2,000,000. 6 ‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In making grants under the Pro- 7 gram, the Administrator shall prioritize projects that do 8 not collect facial and biometric data of passengers not 9 identified as a security threat. 10 ‘‘(e) SUNSET.—The authority to make grants under 11 this section shall terminate on September 30, 2029. 12 ‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 13 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program 14 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029.’’. 15 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap- 16 ter 471 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 17 inserting after the item relating to section 47144 the fol- 18 lowing new item: 19 ‘‘47145. Smart airports pilot program.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1648.IH H1648 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.