[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7655-7656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02413]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

15 CFR Part 774

RIN 0694-XC096


Brain Computer Interface (BCI) Two-Day Hybrid Conference at the 
Department of Commerce

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Announcement of the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) two-day 
hybrid conference.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is announcing a two-
day hybrid (in-person and virtual) conference with industry and other 
experts from academia on Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology 
(hereinafter, the BCI conference). This document describes the purpose 
and scope of the BCI conference and the procedures for attending or 
requesting to speak. In an advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
(ANPRM) published on October 26, 2021, BIS requested input from the 
public and industry concerning the potential uses of BCI technology, 
particularly with respect to its impact on U.S. national security. 
While the comments submitted in response to the ANPRM increased BIS's 
understanding of BCI technology, the BCI conference is intended to 
further both BIS's and the public's understanding of the current status 
of BCI technology and anticipated future developments in research and 
applications.

DATES: 
    BCI conference: The BCI conference will be held on February 16 and 
17, 2023. On February 16, 2023, the proceedings will begin at 9:00 a.m. 
Eastern Standard Time (EST) and conclude at 3:30 p.m. EST. On February 
17, 2023, the BCI conference proceedings will begin at 9:00 a.m. EST 
and conclude at 11:45 a.m. EST. The Microsoft Teams link for this event 
is available on the BIS website at https://www.bis.doc.gov/BCIconference2023.
    Recording: Within 7 business days after the BCI conference, BIS 
will post a link on the BIS website at https://www.bis.doc.gov/BCIconference2023 to a recording on MS Teams. This recording will 
include captioning to make the recording accessible to people with 
disabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions or concerns, please 
contact Dr. Betty Lee, Chemical and Biological Controls Division, 
Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce at phone number 
at (202) 482-5817; or email at [email protected] and include ``BCI 
conference'' in the subject line. For technical help for the BCI 
conference, please contact [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

Purpose

    In this document, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is 
announcing a two-day hybrid (in-person and virtual) conference with 
industry and other experts (e.g., from research institutions) on Brain-
Computer Interface (BCI) technology. This document describes the 
purpose and scope of the BCI conference and the procedures for 
attending or requesting to speak. The BCI conference is intended to 
further BIS's and the public's understanding of the current status and 
future developments in BCI technology and anticipated future 
developments in research and applications. The information obtained 
through the BCI conference will assist BIS in assessing BCI 
technology's national security implications in connection with 
potential regulation under the Export Administration Regulations, 15 
CFR parts 730 through 774 (EAR) as a ``Section 1758 technology'' 
consistent with Section 1758 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, 
50 U.S.C. 4817 (ECRA). Section 1758 of ECRA authorizes BIS to establish 
appropriate controls on the export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) 
of emerging and foundational technologies that are essential to the 
national security of the United States (referred to by BIS as ``Section 
1758 technologies'').
    In October 2021, BIS published an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPRM) (86 FR 59070 (Oct. 26, 2021)). This ANPRM requested 
comments from the public and industry concerning the potential uses of 
BCI technology, particularly with respect to its impact on U.S. 
national security (e.g., whether such technology could provide the 
United States, or any of its adversaries, with a qualitative military 
or intelligence advantage). BIS received 18 comments. The majority of 
comments stated that BCI technology is used for medical purposes to 
assist patients that are paralyzed and should not be controlled. These 
comments highlighted the fact that BCI technology is currently being 
monitored for future advances and commercialization. Given the limited 
number of comments, and the innovations made in BCI technology in

[[Page 7656]]

the intervening years, BIS hopes to obtain additional information at 
the BCI conference, including as to innovations, current research 
initiatives and applications, and information regarding national 
security implications. BIS is not seeking consensus advice or 
recommendations from the invited speakers or any members of the public. 
Instead, it is interested in learning from the perspectives of 
individuals in their own capacity or as members of a company or entity. 
Any information provided during the BCI conference, including remarks 
by industry and academia participants and members of the public, will 
be made part of the record in any future rulemaking pertaining to BCI 
technology.

Agenda

    Following opening remarks by BIS officials, Day 1 will focus on 
understanding the neurotech industry. It will include speakers from 
leading companies and academic institutions involved in BCI technology 
who will address patient advocacy for obtaining BCI technology for 
patients, government funding for BCI technology, BCI technology state 
of the art and applications, and the importance of developing BCI 
technology further and expanding its usage. The rest of Day 1 will 
feature presentations by leaders in the BCI technology industry and 
community, e.g., leaders in research institutes in this area. While the 
Day 2 agenda is still being finalized, it will include additional 
remarks by BIS officials on export controls, including how BIS 
identifies Section 1758 technologies. This session will be followed by 
speakers from leading companies and academic research institutions 
involved in BCI, along with other speakers who will address existing 
work being done on ethics involving BCI technology and dual-use 
applications for BCI technology. As detailed below, interested members 
of the public may request to speak at the conference by following the 
procedures identified in this document. Once the agenda is finalized, 
BIS will post the final agenda for the BIS conference on the BIS 
website at https://www.bis.doc.gov/BCIconference2023.
    The seventeen speakers who have been identified by BIS to speak at 
this conference are leaders and experts in the BCI industry and 
community, e.g., researchers and scholars at academic research 
institutes, and have been invited to give an overview of the current 
state of the art, including recent innovations in BCI technology, 
including potential dual-use applications that could be of concern for 
national security reasons.

Procedure for Attending or Viewing the BCI Conference via Microsoft 
Teams

    RSVP for in-person attendance: As the room capacity is limited to 
45 persons, the public is encouraged to participate virtually. 
Individuals who wish to attend the BCI conference in person are 
required to RSVP by emailing [email protected] and include the 
subject line ``Request to attend BCI conference'' in the email. In the 
email, please provide your name, job title, organization name, contact 
information, and a brief description (no longer than 3 sentences) on 
why you are interested in attending the BCI conference in person. 
Requests to attend the BCI conference in person must be submitted by 
5:00 p.m. EST on February 10, 2023. BIS will notify persons selected to 
attend in person no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on February 14, 2023, with 
priority given to persons who are selected to make a presentation on 
the second day of the BCI conference. Persons interested in attending 
the BCI conference in person on both days and making a presentation on 
the second day do not need to submit an RSVP email and instead should 
follow the guidance below under ``Procedures for requests to make a 
presentation at the BCI conference.'' Please note that individuals who 
wish to attend the BCI conference virtually are not required to submit 
an RSVP request.
    Webcast: As noted in the Dates section of this document, the BCI 
conference will be available live via Microsoft Teams. See the Dates 
section for Microsoft Teams link to attend virtually.
    Visitor Access Requirement: For individuals attending in person, 
please note that identification is required for access and that Federal 
agencies will only accept a state-issued driver's license or 
identification card for access to Federal facilities if such license or 
identification card is issued by a state that is compliant with the 
REAL ID Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-13), or by a state that has an 
extension for REAL ID compliance. The main entrance of the Department 
of Commerce is located at 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue and directly 
across from the Ronald Reagan Building. Upon entering the building, 
please go through security and check in at the guard's desk. BIS staff 
will meet and escort visitors to the auditorium.
    Non-U.S. Citizens/Non-Permanent Residents: All foreign national 
visitors who do not have permanent resident status in the United States 
and who wish to register to attend the BCI conference in person must 
send an email to [email protected] to request registration 
instructions no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on February 7, 2023. Please 
also bring a copy of your passport on the day of the hearing to serve 
as identification.

Procedures for Requests To Make a Presentation at the BCI Conference

    The agenda for the BCI conference includes several leading experts 
in BCI technology from industry and academia. Other participants 
attending in person or virtually will have an opportunity to ask 
questions. In addition, there will be a limited number of spots for 
individuals to make short presentations either in person or virtually 
on February 17, the second day of the BCI conference.
    Individuals who wish to make a presentation at the BCI conference 
on February 17, either in person or virtually, who have not already 
been identified by BIS as speakers are required to submit an email by 
5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 10, 2023, to [email protected] 
with the subject line ``Request to speak at BCI conference.'' In that 
email, please include your name, job title, organization name, contact 
information, a brief description (no longer than 3 sentences) of why 
you are interested in speaking, a copy of any slides that will be used, 
and specify whether you will be attending in person or virtually. The 
email must also include a copy of any presentation that you plan to 
use. Presentations must be no longer than 10 minutes. BIS reserves the 
right to impose additional time constraints in order to accommodate 
potential speakers. In selecting speakers, BIS will seek to represent a 
range of views. BIS will notify persons selected to speak no later than 
5:00 p.m. EST on February 14, 2023.

Thea D. Rozman Kendler,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-02413 Filed 2-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P