[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4006-4007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00928]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination
Application
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments
on the extension and revision of an existing information collection:
0651-0060 (National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination
Application). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public
comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information
collection must be received on or before March 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information:
Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-0060
comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Kimberly Hardy, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to the attention of John Palafoutas, Program
Manager, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, by telephone at 571-272-8400, or by email at
[email protected]. Additional information about this information
collection is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under
``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the highest
honor for technological achievement bestowed by the president of the
United States on America's leading innovators. Established by an Act of
Congress in 1980, the Medal of Technology was first awarded in 1985.
The Medal is awarded annually to individuals, teams (of up to four
individuals), companies, or divisions of companies. The Medal
recognizes outstanding contributions to the Nation's economic,
environmental, and social well-being through the development and
commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts,
technological innovation, and development of the Nation's technological
workforce. By highlighting the national importance of technological
innovation, the Medal also seeks to inspire future generations of
Americans to prepare for and pursue technical careers to keep America
at the forefront of global technology and economic leadership.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination
Evaluation Committee, a distinguished independent committee appointed
by the Secretary of Commerce, reviews and evaluates the merit of all
candidates nominated through an open, competitive solicitation process.
The committee makes its recommendations for Medal candidates to the
Secretary of Commerce who, in turn, makes recommendations to the
President for final selection. The National Medal of Technology and
Innovation Laureates are announced by the White House once the
Medalists are notified of their selection.
This information collection covers data gathered in the National
Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Application, which the
public uses to nominate an individual's, team's, or company's
extraordinary leadership and innovation in technological achievement
and outstanding contribution to strengthening the nation's
technological workforce. The application collects general and
biographical information about the nominee, general information about
the nominator, and a discussion of the nominee's contribution/
achievements, and must be accompanied by up to six letters of
recommendation or support from individuals who have first-hand
knowledge of the cited achievement(s).
II. Method of Collection
The items in this information collection can be submitted
electronically through the USPTO website via the online portal on
www.uspto.gov/nmti.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0651-0060.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 50 respondents per year.
Estimated Number of Responses: 50 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
approximately 40 hours to gather the necessary information, prepare the
nomination application, write the recommendations, and submit the
request for the nomination to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 2,000 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $97,140.
[[Page 4007]]
Table 1--Total Hourly Burden for Individuals or Households Respondents
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Estimated
Estimated annual Estimated time Estimated annual Rate \1\ ($/ Estimated annual
Item No. Item annual responses for response burden (hour/ hour) burden
respondents (year) (hours) year)
(a) (b) (a) x (b) = c (d) (c) x (d) = e
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1..................... National Medal of 50 50 40 2,000 $48.57 $97,140
Technology and Innovation
Nomination Application.
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Totals................. 50 50 .............. 2,000 .............. 97,140
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Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There
are no filing fees, postage, capital start-up, maintenance, or
operation costs associated with this information collection.
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\1\ The USPTO expects that professors, public relations
specialists, civil engineers and research managers will complete
this information. The professional hourly rates for these
occupations, based on the 2019 rates released by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, are $53.88 for professors (OES 19-2099), $33.75 for
public relations specialists (OES 27-3031), $45.36 for civil
engineers (OES 17-2051), and $61.28 for research managers (OES 15-
1111). The average combined hourly rate is $48.57. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_dc.htm.
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Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
IV. Request for Comments
The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the
request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including
an address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying
information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment--including
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold personal
identifying information from public view, USPTO cannot guarantee that
it will be able to do so.
Kimberly Hardy,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2021-00928 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
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