As artificial intelligence (AI) and other critical emerging technologies (CETs) reshape industries and society, the United States faces a pivotal moment in defining its leadership role in global standards development. Earlier this month, ACT | The App Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), and USTelecom | The Broadband Association convened a distinguished panel to discuss how policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders can ensure the United States remains at the forefront of standards-setting for the technologies of tomorrow.
Kedharnath Sankararaman, policy associate at the App Association moderated the panel, which included Paul Eisler, vice president, cybersecurity at USTelecom; Patrick Lozada, director, global policy at TIA; Elaine Newton, principal, AI standards at Amazon Web Services; and Jim Matthews, president at IEEE Standards Association. Each offered unique insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the United States in this critical space.
Standards as a Pillar of Innovation
The panelists emphasized the critical role standards play in fostering innovation, enabling interoperability, and ensuring safety in technology ecosystems. As Patrick Lozada noted, “We [the United States] are the leader in standards for emerging tech because we are the leader in emerging tech. But we’re not the only ones. We have to think about what leadership looks like.” Maintaining U.S. leadership requires continued participation of the U.S. private sector, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and a collaborative approach across government, industry, and academia.
Balancing Global Engagement and National Security in Standards Development
The conversation highlighted the delicate balance between pursuing national security and fostering an open and globally inclusive standards development process. As Paul Eisler pointed out, excluding adversarial entities from standards development organizations (SDOs) risks reducing U.S. influence globally. Instead, proactive policies like the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) July 2024 interim final rule, which revises the scope of “standards-related activities” under Export Administration Regulations (EAR), provide a practical path forward. These updates enable U.S. companies to participate actively in international standards development while protecting national interests.
NIST’s Role in Standards Development
NIST’s non-partisan, technical expertise was another focal point of the discussion. Elaine Newton underscored the agency’s vital role as a resource in informing, but not controlling, standards-setting processes. Chronic underfunding has hampered NIST’s ability to meet its growing responsibilities. While Congress is urged to continue to reject calls for NIST to take on tasks that require it to pick winners and losers in standards development, lawmakers should nonetheless fully fund the agency so that it can perform its core functions, which are critical to American leadership and competitiveness globally.
Empowering Small and Midsize Businesses
Panelists agreed that empowering SMBs to participate in the standards process is essential to fostering innovation. Jim Matthews highlighted the importance of bringing the next generation into these discussions, noting that standards are a long-term strategic investment rather than a quick win. Supporting SMBs with targeted grants, fostering educational initiatives, and hosting more standards meetings in the United States were suggested as practical steps forward.
Avoiding Overregulation and Bureaucracy
Panelists also cautioned against imposing overly prescriptive regulations on standards development. As Jim Matthews put it, “Do enough to do good, but don’t smother the technology. Think about how to set up the right principles and do the necessary pre-standardization work.” This balanced approach ensures that the United States can lead in AI and CET development without hindering innovation or creating unnecessary barriers.
The event underscored the urgency of maintaining U.S. leadership in global standards. As the world’s foremost innovator in emerging technologies, the United States must double down on its commitment to open, private sector-led processes that allow the best ideas to flourish. This includes fully funding NIST, empowering SMBs, and fostering inclusive participation in SDOs.