[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 41 (Thursday, March 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12710-12711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04433]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Thermostat 
Systems, Smart HVAC Systems, Smart HVAC Controls Systems, and 
Components Thereof, DN 3535; 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. For help accessing 
EDIS, please email [email protected].
    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 February 
26, 2021. 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 thermostat systems, smart HVAC systems, 
smart HVAC controls systems, and components thereof. The complainant 
names as respondents: Ecobee Ltd. of Canada; Ecobee, Inc. of Canada; 
Google LLC of Mountain View, CA; Carrier Global Corporation of Palm 
Beach Gardens, FL; Emerson Electric Co. of St. Louis, MO; Honeywell 
International Inc. of Charlotte, NC; Resideo Technologies, Inc. of 
Austin, TX; Johnson Controls International, PLC of Ireland; Siemens 
Industry, Inc. of Buffalo Grove, IL; and Siemens AG of Germany. 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. No other submissions will be 
accepted, unless requested by the Commission. 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. Submissions 
should refer to the docket number (``Docket No. 3535'') in a prominent 
place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See

[[Page 12711]]

Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, Electronic Filing Procedures 
\1\). Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic 
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's 
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov.) 
No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic 
filings will be accepted until further notice. Persons with questions 
regarding filing should contact the Secretary at [email protected].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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: February 26, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-04433 Filed 3-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P