Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) reintroduced the Smart Cities and Communities Act to promote the advancement of smart cities. This legislation was first introduced in 2017.

“Investing in emerging smart city technologies is one of the biggest opportunities for our nation to remain the world’s unmatched leader in innovation,” said DelBene. She added, “Utilizing smart technologies to our advantage will allow cities to invest in clean infrastructure projects that reduce pollution, create good-paying jobs, and expand our middle class. The bottom line is this a commonsense proposal that can improve the quality of life in our communities.”

“Getting smart city technology to local governments will ensure they can make smart investments that attract businesses, create jobs, and improve critical infrastructure. Our bill will help communities of all sizes access these new technologies to better serve their citizens,” said Senator Cantwell.

“It’s time to create jobs and grow our economy by modernizing our nation’s aging infrastructure. This commonsense legislation will promote smart infrastructure solutions in communities of all sizes. This will make our communities safer, healthier, more livable, and more sustainable. This bill also leverages the expertise of our National Laboratories and supports the development of a technology skilled workforce,” said Congressman Luján.

“BSA applauds Congresswoman DelBene and Representative Lujan for introducing the Smart Cities and Communities Act. Smart cities are the future and it’s important that governments have the resources they need to advance workforce development initiatives and enhance cybersecurity and privacy protections for the US economy,” said Tommy Ross, Senior Policy Director, BSA | The Software Alliance

The bill was developed in collaboration with cities across the country, as well as telecommunications and information technology companies, and authorizes $220 million for each of 5 years. The bill will also:

• Enhance federal coordination of smart city programs, including improved reporting and demonstration of the value and utility of smart city systems.
• Provide assistance and resources to local governments interested in implementing smart city technologies.
• Develop a skilled and technology savvy domestic workforce to support smart cities.
• Improve the quality and performance of smart city technologies while assessing and enhancing cybersecurity and privacy protections.
• Foster international collaboration and trade in smart city technologies.

The smart city market estimates show rapid growth in the coming years, and the number of internet-connected devices is expected to grow from 6.6 million in 2016 to 22.5 billion in 2021. City governments are expected to spend $41 trillion over the next 20 years on smart tech to upgrade their infrastructure to benefit from the internet of things, according to the Smart America Challenge.