[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65742-65743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31449]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION


Forum on Issues Relating to Electronic Filing and Maintenance of 
Documents

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice to assess public interest in the agency's holding a 
forum.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States International Trade Commission wishes to 
ascertain the extent to which members of the public would be interested 
in attending and making statements at a forum on issues relating to 
electronic filing and maintenance of documents. If such a forum were to 
be held, it would provide members of the public with the opportunity to 
provide input that the Commission can use to develop effective 
processes for electronic document filing and maintenance. The 
Commission anticipates that any such forum, if held, likely would be 
held in January 2002.

ADDRESSES: A person wishing to appear at the forum and make a statement 
should file a request to do so directed to the Secretary to the 
Commission. A request to appear should indicate the following 
information: (1) The name of the person desiring to make a statement; 
(2) the organization or organizations represented by that person, if 
any; (3) contact information (address, telephone, and e-mail); and (4) 
information on the specific focus or interest of the person (or his or 
her organization) and any questions or issues the person would like to 
raise. A request may be sent by e-mail to ``[email protected],'' or by 
mail or hand delivery to the Secretary, United States International 
Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. The deadline 
for receipt of requests is Friday, December 28, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Bardos, Esq. (202-205-3102), 
Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 
E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need 
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact 
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
Internet server (at URL http://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is contemplating holding a 
forum on issues relating to electronic filing and maintenance of 
documents, and wishes to ascertain the extent of public interest in 
appearing at such a forum.
    In 1996, the Commission established the Electronic Document Imaging 
System (EDIS), which stores and provides access to docket records in 
agency investigations. The Commission now is contemplating replacing 
EDIS with a new document management system that would provide better 
functionality. In particular, the Commission is seeking as part of the 
new system the capability to accept documents electronically.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure currently provide 
for the filing of documents with the agency in paper form. Consistent 
with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) (Div. C, Title 
XVII, Public Law 105-277), the Commission is considering permitting 
parties and other persons to file some documents with the agency 
electronically. The Commission contemplates obtaining the capability 
to, inter alia: (1) Permit a person to make a filing by uploading it 
electronically to a Commission Web site; (2) provide security to 
protect confidential business and business proprietary information from 
unauthorized disclosure; (3) verify the identity of the submitter 
through a password, electronic signature, or other security system; (4) 
acknowledge receipt of the submission by an electronic message to 
establish when filing occurred; and (5) alert in-house users of new 
submissions. A new Commission document management system might also 
permit faster searches for and retrieval of documents in the 
Commission's docket files than currently permitted by EDIS.
    The Commission held a public forum on June 20, 2001, to solicit 
public views on (1) what features of an electronic system might be 
helpful to users, (2) what technical difficulties might arise in 
connection with such a system, and (3) how the agency might implement 
such a system. The agency has taken into account the views expressed at 
the forum, as well as those expressed in written comments, in its 
planning for the new system.
    Now that the Commission has done further work on defining how the 
agency may implement such a system, the agency is considering holding 
another forum to solicit further input from the public on issues 
relating to electronic document filing and maintenance. Before 
scheduling such a forum, the Commission wishes to gauge the level of 
public interest in attending such an event.

[[Page 65743]]

    Any person may attend the forum and make a statement concerning the 
issues listed above. A person wishing to do so must file a request with 
the Secretary. Once all requests have been received, the Commission 
will decide on whether to hold the forum. The Commission will inform 
each person whose request to appear has been granted of the date, time, 
location, and agenda of the forum.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: December 17, 2001.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-31449 Filed 12-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P