[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57882-57883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23557]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION


Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating 
to the Public Interest

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has received a complaint entitled Certain Smart Thermostats, 
Smart HVAC Systems, and Components Thereof, DN 3418; the Commission is 
soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the 
complaint or complainant's filing pursuant to the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa R. Barton, Secretary to the 
Commission, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-2000. The public version of 
the complaint can be accessed on the Commission's Electronic Document 
Information System (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov, and will be 
available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 
5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-
2000.
    General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained 
by accessing its internet server at United States International Trade 
Commission (USITC) at https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this 
investigation may be viewed on the Commission's Electronic Document 
Information System (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired 
persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by 
contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received a complaint and 
a submission pursuant to Sec.  210.8(b) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure filed on behalf of EcoFactor, Inc. on October 
23, 2019. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff 
Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) in the importation into the United States, 
the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after 
importation of certain smart thermostats, smart HVAC systems, and 
components thereof. The complaint names as respondents: Ecobee Ltd. of 
Canada; Ecobee, Inc. of Canada; Google LLC of Mountain View, CA; 
Alarm.com Incorporated of Tysons, VA; Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. of 
Tysons, VA; Daikin Industries, Ltd. of Japan; Daikin America, Inc. of 
Orangeburg, NY; Daikin North America LLC of Houston, TX; Schneider 
Electric USA, Inc. of Andover, MA; Schneider Electric SE of France; and 
Vivint, Inc. of Provo, UT. The complainant requests that the Commission 
issue a limited exclusion order, cease and desist orders and impose a 
bond upon respondents' alleged infringing articles during the 60-day 
Presidential review period pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1337(j).
    Proposed respondents, other interested parties, and members of the 
public are invited to file comments on any public interest issues 
raised by the complaint or Sec.  210.8(b) filing. Comments should 
address whether issuance of the relief specifically requested by the 
complainant in this investigation would affect the public health and 
welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United 
States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles 
in the United States, or United States consumers.
    In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that:
    (i) Explain how the articles potentially subject to the requested 
remedial orders are used in the United States;
    (ii) identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the 
United States relating to the requested remedial orders;
    (iii) identify like or directly competitive articles that 
complainant, its licensees, or third parties make in the United States 
which could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded;
    (iv) indicate whether complainant, complainant's licensees, and/or 
third party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of 
articles potentially subject to the requested exclusion order and/or a 
cease and desist order within a commercially reasonable time; and
    (v) explain how the requested remedial orders would impact United 
States consumers.
    Written submissions on the public interest must be filed no later 
than by close of business, eight calendar days after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. There will be 
further opportunities for comment on the public interest after the 
issuance of any final initial determination in this investigation. Any 
written submissions on other issues must also be filed by no later than 
the close of business, eight calendar days after publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. Complainant may file replies to any 
written submissions no later than three calendar days after the date on 
which any initial submissions were due. Any submissions and replies 
filed in response to this Notice are limited to five (5) pages in 
length, inclusive of attachments.
    Persons filing written submissions must file the original document 
electronically on or before the deadlines stated above and submit 8 
true paper copies to the Office of the Secretary by noon the next day 
pursuant to Sec.  210.4(f)

[[Page 57883]]

of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.4(f)). 
Submissions should refer to the docket number (``Docket No. 3418'') in 
a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See 
Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, Electronic Filing Procedures 
\1\). Persons with questions regarding filing should contact the 
Secretary (202-205-2000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures: https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in 
confidence must request confidential treatment. All such requests 
should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include 
a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such 
treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment 
by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. All 
information, including confidential business information and documents 
for which confidential treatment is properly sought, submitted to the 
Commission for purposes of this Investigation may be disclosed to and 
used: (i) By the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract 
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a 
related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, 
and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of 
the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. 
government employees and contract personnel,\2\ solely for 
cybersecurity purposes. All nonconfidential written submissions will be 
available for public inspection at the Office of the Secretary and on 
EDIS.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure 
agreements.
    \3\ Electronic Document Information System (EDIS): https://edis.usitc.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and of Sec. Sec.  
201.10 and 210.8(c) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 
(19 CFR 201.10, 210.8(c)).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: October 23, 2019.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2019-23557 Filed 10-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P