[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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