Internet of Things

HWG lawyers have helped some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies invest in Internet of Things (IoT) and connected devices and bring new technology to market.

We bring our renowned combination of tech, regulatory, and industry know-how as we represent clients on critical issues for IoT. We have deep experience practicing before the federal agencies that set the regulatory agenda for IoT, including the Federal Communications Commission, Consumer Products Safety Commission, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services. And we help our clients shape that agenda.

We advise clients on the unique challenges of developing and operating IoT products, identify opportunities to shape the regulatory environment, and help clients navigate critical compliance issues—ranging from data security to device labeling—that impact advancing IoT technology.

Equipment Authorization | Device Certification

HWG’s IoT team includes both lawyers and engineers experienced in navigating the device certification process. This team includes Dr. Rashmi Doshi, who led the Office of Engineering and Technology, Laboratory Division of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for nearly  two decades, where he was responsible for management of the equipment authorization program. Dr. Doshi now works closely with HWG’s regulatory lawyers to ensure clients in the IoT space comply with the FCC’s technical device testing and compliance requirements.

Spectrum

HWG’s wireless spectrum team is among the most active and well-known in the US. Our lawyers regularly help clients to secure access to licensed and unlicensed spectrum needed to operate connected devices and new services. We also frequently assist clients in identifying potential spectrum and advocating for waivers and rule changes with regulators.

Privacy, Marketing, and Cybersecurity

Our clients’ connected devices are used in some of the most sensitive places in the world, including in government-secured facilities, along pipelines, in children’s bedrooms, and on consumers’ bodies. HWG’s data protection team helps tech and marketing companies to reduce the legal risks associated with collecting, using, and disclosing the information that such IoT can access, while meeting business and operational needs. Our team of lawyers and engineers closely follows developments in IoT-specific data security standards, including cybersecurity labeling standards for consumer IoT. We also have significant experience helping clients in the face of complaints and government inquiries into data privacy practices, government demands for access to information, and data breaches and other security incidents.

Product and User Safety

HWG’s product and user safety team provides IoT clients with experience with the diverse mix of regulatory bodies that oversee IoT product and user safety. HWG attorneys have decades of experience practicing before the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), working on FDA medical device regulation, and advocating before the FCC on telecom customer safety issues. We help clients shape the regulatory landscape as these and other government agencies develop new regulatory frameworks and apply existing ones to the IoT sphere. And we help clients in the IoT space plan for and respond to user-safety-related incidents and litigation.

Accessibility

HWG attorneys advise some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies on disability access obligations and accessibility compliance on new technology, including connected devices. As a leader in this space, HWG offers clients advice on current requirements and anticipated regulatory changes that may impact product use and development.

Avoiding Investigations + Litigation

HWG litigators work regularly with our tech and telecom clients proactively to identify and address issues that might result in inquiries, investigations or litigation associated with new technology. And if a concern is more formally raised from an agency, Congress, or consumer, we have advised clients on sensitive, high-profile investigations, from matters that appear in the news to those that remain confidential. In each matter, we develop a custom approach with a team selected and sized for the tasks at hand and adjust our approach as the investigation progresses.

We have represented clients in smaller, informal government inquiries, advising on initial fact-finding efforts, including responding to letters of inquiry or subpoenas. We have also represented clients in large-scale, formal investigations. Our team has also been retained to assist in government investigations at the request of in-house counsel, senior management, boards, and existing outside counsel.

We routinely represent clients before key federal enforcement agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. Our attorneys have also represented clients in conjunction with investigations led by various state attorneys general.

Strategy

HWG actively monitors and influences regulatory developments impacting IoT/connected devices. We work with clients on a full range of strategic issues, from developing and implementing regulatory harmonization for global products to navigating domestic and international standards setting bodies to advance the development of new product and service offerings.

Read More+