[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68406-68408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26778]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economics and Statistics Administration


Establishment of Commerce Data Advisory Council; Solicitation of 
Nominations for Membership

AGENCY: Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA), Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Commerce Data Advisory Council 
(CDAC) and solicitation of nominations for membership.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1512 and the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2, hereinafter the Act), the Under 
Secretary for Economic Affairs, Economics and Statistics 
Administration, announces the establishment of the Commerce Data 
Advisory Council (CDAC) by the Secretary, Department of Commerce. The 
CDAC will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on ways 
to make Commerce data easier to find, access, use, combine, and 
disseminate, and on other such matters as the Secretary determines. The 
Council will continue for two years unless renewed by the Secretary, 
Department of Commerce. With the exception of the limitations set out 
in 41 CFR part 102-3, the Under Secretary for

[[Page 68407]]

Economic Affairs, on behalf of the Secretary, Department of Commerce, 
will execute the functions and implement the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act and its implementing regulation. This notice 
also requests nominations for membership on the Council.

DATES: The Economics and Statistics Administration must receive 
nominations for members by midnight December 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit nominations to the email account 
[email protected], this account is specifically set up to 
receive Data Advisory Council applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Burton Reist, Director of External 
Affairs, Economics and Statistics Administration, Department of 
Commerce, at (202) 482-3331 or email [email protected], also at 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington D.C. 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Commerce (Department) collects, compiles, 
analyzes, and disseminates a treasure trove of data, including data on 
the Nation's economy, population, and environment. This data is 
fundamental to the Department's mission and is used for the protection 
of life and property, for scientific purposes, and to enhance economic 
growth. However, the Department's capacity to disseminate the 
increasing amount of data held and to disseminate it in formats most 
useful to its customers is significantly constrained.
    In order to realize the potential value of the data the Department 
collects, stores, and disseminates, the Department must minimize 
barriers to accessing and using the data. Consistent with privacy and 
security considerations, the Department is firmly committed to 
unleashing its untapped data resources in ways that best support 
downstream information access, processing, analysis, and dissemination.
    The CDAC will provide advice and recommendations, to include 
process and infrastructure improvements, to the Secretary on ways to 
make Commerce data easier to find, access, use, combine and 
disseminate. The aim of this advice shall be to maximize the value of 
Commerce data to all users including governments, businesses, 
communities, academia, and individuals.
    The Secretary will draw CDAC membership from the data industry with 
a focus on recognized expertise in collection, compilation, analysis, 
and dissemination. As privacy concerns span the entire data lifecycle, 
expertise in privacy protection also will be represented on the 
Council. The Secretary will select members that represent the entire 
spectrum of Commerce data including demographic, economic, scientific, 
environmental, patent, and geospatial data. The Secretary will select 
members from the information technology, business, non-profit, and 
academic communities, and state and local governments. Collectively, 
their knowledge will include all types of data Commerce distributes and 
the full lifecycle of data collection, compilation, analysis, and 
dissemination. The membership balance plan is not static and may 
change, depending on the needs of the Secretary and the work of the 
Council.

II. Description of Duties

    The Council shall advise the Secretary on ways to make Commerce 
data easier to find, access, use, combine, and disseminate. Such advice 
may include recommended process and infrastructure improvements. The 
aim of this advice shall be to maximize the value of Commerce data to 
governments, businesses, communities, and individuals.
    In carrying out its duties, the Council may consider the following:
     Data management practices that make it easier to track and 
disseminate integrated, interoperable data for diverse users;
     Best practices that can be deployed across Commerce to 
achieve common, open standards related to taxonomy, vocabulary, 
application programming interfaces (APIs), metadata, and other key data 
characteristics;
     Policy issues that arise from expanding access to data, 
including issues related to privacy, confidentiality, latency, and 
consistency;
     Opportunities and risks related to the combination of 
public and private data sources and the development of joint data 
products and services resulting from public-private partnerships;
     External uses of Commerce data and similar federal, state, 
and private data sets by businesses; and,
     Methods to enhance communication and collaboration between 
stakeholders and subject-matter experts at Commerce on data access and 
use.
    Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets 
forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees, is 
the governing instrument for the CDAC.

III. Structure

    The Council shall consist of up to 15 members. The Secretary shall 
appoint members and they shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. 
Members shall represent a cross-section of business, academic, non-
profit, and non-governmental organizations. The Secretary will choose 
members of the Commerce Data Advisory Council who ensure objectivity 
and balance, a diversity of perspectives, and guard against potential 
for conflicts of interest. Members shall be prominent experts in their 
fields, recognized for their professional and other relevant 
achievements and their objectivity. In order to ensure the continuity 
of the Commerce Data Advisory Council, the Council shall be appointed 
so that each year the terms expire of approximately one-third of the 
members of the Council. Committee members serve for terms of two years 
and may be reappointed to any number of additional terms. Initial 
appointments may be for 12-, 18-and 24-month increments to provide 
staggered terms.
    The Secretary shall select the members and chair. The Secretary may 
also appoint non-voting ex officio members, or designees of such 
officials, as the Secretary deems necessary for the Commerce Data 
Advisory Council to effectively carry out its functions. As necessary, 
the Secretary may approve the establishment of subcommittees composed 
of members of the parent Council to perform specific functions within 
the Council's jurisdiction. The Designated Federal Officer shall notify 
the Department Committee Management Officer upon establishment of each 
subcommittee, and shall provide information on its name, membership, 
function, and estimated frequency of meetings.
    When vacancies occur, the Secretary will select replacements who 
can best either replicate the expertise of the departing member or 
provide the CDAC with a new, identified needed area of expertise. An 
individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the 
remainder of the term of the member replaced. A vacancy shall not 
affect the exercise of any power of the remaining members to execute 
the duties of the Council.
    All members of the Commerce Data Advisory Council shall adhere to 
the conflict of interest rules applicable to Special Government 
Employees as such employees are defined in 18 U.S.C. section 202(a). 
These rules include relevant provisions in 18 U.S.C. related to 
criminal activity, Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the 
Executive

[[Page 68408]]

Branch (5 CFR part 2635), and Executive Order 12674 (as modified by 
Executive Order 12731). Management and support services shall be 
provided by the Economics and Statistics Administration.

IV. Compensation

    Membership is under voluntary circumstances and therefore members 
do not receive compensation for service on the Commerce Data Advisory 
Council. Members shall receive per diem and travel expenses as 
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703, as amended, for persons employed 
intermittently in the Government service. Members who are officers or 
employees of the United States Government shall not receive 
compensation for service on the Council.

V. Nominations

    The Secretary will consider nominations of all qualified 
individuals to ensure that the CDAC includes the areas of subject 
matter expertise noted above (see ''Structure''). Individuals may 
nominate themselves or other individuals, and professional associations 
and organizations may nominate one or more qualified persons for 
membership on the CDAC. Nominations shall state that the nominee is 
willing to serve as a member of the Council.
    A nomination package should include the following information for 
each nominee: (1) A letter of nomination stating the name, affiliation, 
and contact information for the nominee, the basis for the nomination 
(i.e., what specific attributes recommend him/her for service in this 
capacity), and the nominee's field(s) of expertise; (2) a biographical 
sketch of the nominee and a copy of his/her curriculum vitae; and (3) 
the name, return address, email address, and daytime telephone number 
at which the nominator can be contacted.
    The Department of Commerce has special interest in assuring that 
women, minority groups, and the physically disabled are adequately 
represented on advisory committees; and therefore, extends particular 
encouragement to nominations for appropriately qualified female, 
minority, or disabled candidates. The Department of Commerce also 
encourages geographic diversity in the composition of the Council. All 
nomination information should be provided in a single, complete package 
within 30 days of the publication of this notice. Interested applicants 
should send their nomination package to the email or postal address 
provided above.
    Potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed information 
concerning financial interests, consultancies, research grants, and/or 
contracts that might be affected by recommendations of the Council to 
permit evaluation of possible sources of conflicts of interest. 
Finally, nominees will be required to certify that they are not subject 
to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (22 U.S.C. 611) or the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).

    Dated: November 3, 2014.
Austin Durrer,
Chief of Staff for Under Secretary for Economic Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-26778 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
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