[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 14425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06029]



[[Page 14425]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Multistakeholder Process To Develop Best Practices for Privacy, 
Transparency, and Accountability Regarding Commercial and Private Use 
of Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) will convene a meeting of a multistakeholder process concerning 
privacy, transparency, and accountability issues regarding commercial 
and private use of unmanned aircraft systems on April 8, 2016.

DATES: The meeting will be held on April 8, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., 
Eastern Time. See Supplementary Information for details.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Boardroom at the American 
Institute of Architects, 1735 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Verdi, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4725, Washington, DC 
20230; telephone (202) 482-8238; email [email protected]. Please 
direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-
7002; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: Congress recognized the potential wide-ranging benefits 
of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations within the United States 
in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Reform 
Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95), which requires a plan to safely integrate 
civil UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS) by 2015. On February 
15, 2015, President Obama issued the Presidential Memorandum 
``Promoting Economic Competitiveness While Safeguarding Privacy, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties in Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems.'' \1\ The Presidential Memorandum establishes a ``multi-
stakeholder engagement process to develop and communicate best 
practices for privacy, accountability, and transparency issues 
regarding commercial and private UAS use in the NAS.'' \2\ The process 
includes stakeholders from industry, civil society, and academia, and 
will be initiated by the Department of Commerce, through NTIA, and in 
consultation with other interested agencies. On August 3, 2015, NTIA 
convened the first meeting of the multistakeholder process, followed by 
additional meetings through February 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Presidential Memorandum, Promoting Economic Competitiveness 
While Safeguarding Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties in 
Domestic Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, (Feb. 15, 2015), 
available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/15/presidential-memorandum-promoting-economic-competitiveness-while-safegua.
    \2\ Presidential Memorandum at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Matters To Be Considered: The April 8, 2016 meeting is a 
continuation of a series of NTIA-convened multistakeholder discussions 
concerning privacy, transparency, and accountability issues regarding 
commercial and private use of UAS. Additional meetings may be scheduled 
as needed. Stakeholders will engage in an open, transparent, consensus-
driven process to develop best practices for privacy, accountability, 
and transparency issues regarding commercial and private UAS use in the 
NAS. The April 8, 2016 meeting will build on stakeholders' previous 
work. More information about stakeholders' work is available at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2015/multistakeholder-process-unmanned-aircraft-systems.
    Time and Date: NTIA will convene a meeting of the multistakeholder 
process regarding unmanned aircraft systems on April 8, 2016 from 1 
p.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time. The meeting date and time are subject to 
change. The meeting is subject to cancellation if stakeholders complete 
their work developing best practices. Please refer to NTIA's Web site, 
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2016/multistakeholder-process-unmanned-aircraft-systems, for the most current information.
    Place: The meeting will be held in the Boardroom at the American 
Institute of Architects, 1735 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20006. The location of the meeting is subject to change. Please refer 
to NTIA's Web site, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2016/multistakeholder-process-unmanned-aircraft-systems, for the most 
current information.
    Other Information: The meeting is open to the public and the press. 
The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to John Verdi at (202) 482-8238 or 
[email protected] at least seven (7) business days prior to the 
meeting. The meeting will also be webcast. Requests for real-time 
captioning of the webcast or other auxiliary aids should be directed to 
John Verdi at (202) 482-8238 or [email protected] at least seven (7) 
business days prior to the meeting. There will be an opportunity for 
stakeholders viewing the webcast to participate remotely in the meeting 
through a moderated conference bridge, including polling functionality. 
Access details for the meeting are subject to change. Please refer to 
NTIA's Web site, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2016/multistakeholder-process-unmanned-aircraft-systems, for the most 
current information.

    Dated: March 14, 2016.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-06029 Filed 3-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-60-P