The Internet Architecture Board (IAB), via IAB Chair Andrew Sullivan, recently responded to a Request for Comment from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on “The Benefits, Challenges, and Potential Roles for the Government in Fostering the Advancement of the Internet of Things.”
The IAB, an Affirming Partner of the OpenStand Principles, offered these comments in May of 2016. Their comments “focus on the architectural and other technical elements of the questions offered, particularly with respect to the openness, scalability, and security of the Internet as it continues to expand to include ‘the Internet of Things.’” Leading into the commentary, the IAB expressed the belief that the questions raised in the request for comment (RFC) must be reviewed within the framework of principles and considerations of Internet architecture.
In response to the NTIA RFC, the IAB submitted comment to six questions outlined in the RFC. Those questions and subsequent IAB responses can be found here. Perhaps most of interest to OpenStand readers is the response to Question 20. Here is the question and the IAB response in their entirety:
Question 20: What factors should the Department consider in its international engagement in: a) Standards and specification organizations? b) Bilateral and multilateral engagement? c) Industry alliances? d) Other?
Response: The IAB endorses the OpenStand Principles and believes that adhering to such principles for IoT standards is essential in promoting a free and open Internet worldwide, promoting trust and confidence online, and promoting innovation in the digital economy, all of which the IAB notes are pillars defined by the Digital Economy Leadership Team (DELT).
OpenStand has written many times about how the development of IoT should adhere to open standards, resulting in a recent panel discussion on that very topic which you can view here. Open standards will help to ensure that the internet, and the IoT, remain the premier platforms for innovation and borderless commerce and are extendable to other technologies. The principles stress voluntary adoption and empower the economies of global markets — fueled by technological innovation — to drive global standards deployment. To that end, insofar as the government is involved with the Internet, those governing bodies must be aware of the essential elements Internet architecture.