[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28036-28037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10022]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 337-TA-1258]


Certain Smart Thermostat Systems, Smart HVAC Systems, Smart HVAC 
Control Systems, and Components Thereof; Notice of Request for 
Submissions on the Public Interest

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that on April 4, 2022, the presiding 
administrative law judge (``ALJ'') issued a Final Initial Determination 
on Violation of Section 337. The ALJ also issued a Recommended 
Determination on remedy and bonding should a violation be found in the 
above-captioned investigation. The Commission is soliciting submissions 
on public interest issues raised by the recommended relief should the 
Commission find a violation. This notice is soliciting comments from 
the public only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Houda Morad, Esq., Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. International

[[Page 28037]]

Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone 
(202) 708-4716. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in 
connection with this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's 
electronic docket (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 
https://www.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: Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 
provides that, if the Commission finds a violation, it shall exclude 
the articles concerned from the United States:

unless, after considering the effect of such exclusion upon the 
public health and welfare, competitive conditions in the United 
States economy, the production of like or directly competitive 
articles in the United States, and United States consumers, it finds 
that such articles should not be excluded from entry.

    19 U.S.C. 1337(d)(1). A similar provision applies to cease and 
desist orders. 19 U.S.C. 1337(f)(1).
    The Commission is soliciting submissions on public interest issues 
raised by the recommended relief should the Commission find a 
violation, specifically: A limited exclusion order directed to certain 
smart thermostat systems, smart HVAC systems, smart HVAC control 
systems, and components thereof imported, sold for importation, and/or 
sold after importation by respondents: Ecobee, Ltd., ecobee Inc., and 
Google LLC (collectively, ``Respondents''). Parties are to file public 
interest submissions pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4).
    The Commission is interested in further development of the record 
on the public interest in this investigation. Accordingly, members of 
the public are invited to file submissions of no more than five (5) 
pages, inclusive of attachments, concerning the public interest in 
light of the ALJ's Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding 
issued in this investigation on April 4, 2022. Comments should address 
whether issuance of the recommended remedial orders in this 
investigation, should the Commission find a violation, 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 recommended 
remedial orders are used in the United States;
    (ii) identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the 
United States relating to the recommended orders;
    (iii) identify like or directly competitive articles that 
complainant, complainant's 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 recommended orders within a 
commercially reasonable time; and
    (v) explain how the recommended orders would impact consumers in 
the United States.
    Written submissions must be filed no later than by close of 
business on May 20, 2022.
    Persons filing written submissions must file the original document 
electronically on or before the deadlines stated above. The 
Commission's paper filing requirements in 19 CFR 210.4(f) are currently 
waived. 85 FR 15798 (March 19, 2020). Submissions should refer to the 
investigation number (``Inv. No. 337-TA-1258'') in a prominent place on 
the cover page and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic 
Filing Procedures, https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf.). Persons with questions regarding 
filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
    Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in 
confidence must request confidential treatment by marking each document 
with a header indicating that the document contains confidential 
information. This marking will be deemed to satisfy the request 
procedure set forth in Rules 201.6(b) and 210.5(e)(2) (19 CFR 201.6(b) 
& 210.5(e)(2)). Documents for which confidential treatment by the 
Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. A redacted 
non-confidential version of the document must also be filed 
simultaneously with any confidential filing. 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, solely for cybersecurity purposes. 
All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements. 
All nonconfidential written submissions will be available for public 
inspection on EDIS.
    This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in Part 210 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR part 210).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: May 5, 2022.
William Bishop,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-10022 Filed 5-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P