Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) has begun to solicit comments from policymakers and industry stakeholders about cyber protections by issuing a discussion draft on a bill that would establish minimal cybersecurity standards for internet-connected devices, Nextgov reported Monday.Kelly’s measure is a companion bill to Senate legislation – Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017 – introduced early this month by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Virginia), Cory Gardner (R-Colorado), Ron Wyden (D-Washington) and Steve Daines (R-Montana).
The House bill would form an advisory board to be led by the director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The board would be responsible for the development of objectives and definitions for IoT standards and would include leaders from federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Communications Commission and the General Services Administration.
The OMB chief and other agency heads would release guidelines that detail requirements for agencies when it comes to the procurement of IoT devices within six months of the bill’s enactment.
The legislation would also direct contractors to share data with agencies on updates to IoT devices and security support they provide for such devices.
Kelly’s office said the lawmaker may propose the measure in the fall of 2017, the report added.
