[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 172 (Thursday, September 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61527-61529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19245]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 230818-0199]


Request for Information on Implementation of the United States 
Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging 
Technology (USG NSSCET)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NIST is seeking information on behalf of the U.S. Department 
of Commerce and the U.S. Government to support the development of an 
implementation plan for the United States Government National Standards 
Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET). The USG 
NSSCET is intended to support and complement existing private sector-
led

[[Page 61528]]

activities and plans, including the American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI) United States Standards Strategy (USSS), with a focus 
on critical and emerging technology(ies) (CET). The USG NSSCET 
reinforces the U.S. Government's support of a private sector-led, open, 
consensus-based international standards system, corresponding to the 
World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) 
Committee decision that articulates and elaborates on principles that 
are fundamental to the development of an international standards: 
transparency; openness; impartiality and consensus; effectiveness and 
relevance; and coherence.
    To inform the USG NSSCET implementation, including how to best 
partner with relevant stakeholders, NIST is requesting information that 
will support the identification and prioritization of key activities 
that will optimize the USG NSSCET implementation and further enhance 
the U.S. Government's ability to support a private sector-led, open, 
consensus-based international standards system, to which the U.S. 
Government is an active stakeholder and participant.

DATES: Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 
6, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
     Electronic submission: Submit electronic public comments 
via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter NIST-2023-0005 in the search 
field.
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete the required 
fields.
    3. Enter or attach your comments.
    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of 
the referenced materials. All submissions, including attachments and 
other supporting materials, will become part of the public record and 
subject to public disclosure.
    All comments responding to this document will be a matter of public 
record. Relevant comments will generally be available on the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. After the comment period 
closes, relevant comments will generally be available on 
www.standards.gov. NIST will not accept comments accompanied by a 
request that part or all of the material be treated confidentially 
because of its business proprietary nature or for any other reason. 
Therefore, do not submit confidential business information or otherwise 
sensitive, protected, or personal information, such as account numbers, 
Social Security numbers, or names of other individuals.
    For Public Meetings/Webcast: NIST may hold a series of ``Listening 
Sessions'' or ``Stakeholder Events'' in support of the USG NSSCET 
implementation. Information on these and any other NIST-sponsored 
events in connection with the USG NSSCET implementation will be 
announced at www.standards.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice please 
contact: Jennifer L. Marshall, Deputy Director, Standards Coordination 
Office (SCO), NIST via email at [email protected] or by phone at (301) 975-
3396. Please direct all media inquiries to Public Affairs Office (PAO), 
NIST via email at [email protected] or by phone at (301) 975-2762.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST is seeking information on behalf of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Government to support the 
development of an implementation plan for the United States Government 
National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG 
NSSCET). The USG NSSCET is intended to support and complement existing 
private sector-led activities and plans, including the American 
National Standards Institute (ANSI) United States Standards Strategy 
(USSS), with a focus on critical and emerging technology(ies) (CET). 
The U.S. standards development system is unique because it is built 
upon a wide variety of processes that are open, voluntary, 
decentralized, and led by the private sector. These processes feature 
openness to participation by materially interested stakeholders with 
consensus-based decision making. Finalized standards are primarily 
published by private sector standards organizations, not the U.S. 
Government. The U.S. Government supports standards development 
activities in accordance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) 
Technical Barriers to Trade Committee decision that articulates 
principles including transparency, openness, impartiality and 
consensus, effectiveness, relevance, and coherence. The USG NSSCET 
reinforces the U.S. Government's support of a private sector-led, open, 
consensus-based international standards system, to which the U.S. 
Government is an active stakeholder and participant. To inform the USG 
NSSCET implementation, including how to best partner with relevant 
stakeholders, NIST is requesting information that will support the 
identification and prioritization of key activities that will optimize 
the USG NSSCET implementation and further enhance the U.S. Government's 
ability to support a private sector-led, open, consensus-based 
international standards system. In addition to other agencies and 
Departments, bureaus across the U.S. Department of Commerce are 
involved in the USG NSSCET. They include the International Trade 
Administration (ITA), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the 
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
    CET covered under the USG NSSCET include, but are not limited to:
 Communication and Networking Technologies
 Semiconductors and Microelectronics, including Computing, 
Memory, and Storage Technologies
 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
 Biotechnologies
 Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services
 Digital Identity Infrastructure and Distributed Ledger 
Technologies
 Clean Energy Generation and Storage
 Quantum Information Technologies
    There are also specific applications of CET that departments and 
agencies have determined will impact our global economy and national 
security. These include, but are not limited to:
 Automated and Connected Infrastructure
 Biobanking
 Automated, Connected, and Electrified Transportation
 Critical Minerals Supply Chains
 Cybersecurity and Privacy
 Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage

    A full list of CETs identified by the National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC) can be found https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02-2022-Critical-and-Emerging-Technologies-List-Update.pdf.
    The national interest in CET and associated areas of 
standardization demands a new and urgent level of coordination and 
effort. National policy priorities, as expressed in legislation and 
other statements of policy, will require new ways for public sector and 
private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and small- and 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academic community, and civil society 
organizations) stakeholders to cooperate in order to advance U.S. 
economic competitiveness and national security.
    NIST is seeking comments on the following questions and encourages

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responses from the public, including key stakeholders from the private 
sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and SMEs, academic 
community, and civil society organizations), standards developing 
organizations (SDOs), and international partners. The questions reflect 
the four Objectives in the USG NSSCET. However, the questions are not 
intended to limit the topics that may be addressed. Responses may 
include any topic believed to have implications for the implementation 
of the USG NSSCET.
    When responding, commenters may address the practices of their 
organization(s) or a group of organizations with which they are 
familiar. Commenters may also provide information about the type, size, 
and location of the organization(s). Provision of such information is 
optional and will not affect NIST's consideration.

General Questions

    1. Are there potential benefits, opportunities, or risks associated 
with increased U.S. participation in standards development activities 
for CET?
    2. What are the potential risks or implications of decreased U.S. 
participation in standards development activities for CET?
    3. What are the most important challenges faced by the private 
sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and small- and medium-sized 
enterprises (SMEs), academic community, and civil society 
organizations) when participating in standards development activities 
for CET, and how can these challenges be addressed?

USG NSSCET Objective 1: Investment

    4. How can the U.S. Government establish policies that promote 
standards development for CET as a critical component of U.S. 
innovation culture?
    5. How can the U.S. Government utilize Federal spending on research 
and development to drive technical contributions for CET standards 
development activities?
    6. How can the U.S. Government facilitate the adoption of 
standards-based CET by industry stakeholders, including start-ups and 
small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?
    7. How can the U.S. Government better support publicly funded and 
private research in standards development activities for CET?

USG NSSCET Objective 2: Participation

    8. How can the U.S. Government increase the amount and consistency 
of private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and small- and 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academic community, and civil society 
organizations) engagement in standards development activities for CET?
    9. How can the U.S. Government improve communications among the 
public and private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and 
small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academic community, and 
civil society organizations) to address potential participation gaps in 
standards development activities for CET?
    10. How can the U.S. Government foster early collaboration with 
private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and small- and 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academic community, and civil society 
organizations) stakeholders to identify standards for CET that would 
encourage market and regulatory acceptance as needed? At what stage is 
early collaboration most effective?
    11. What roles do the academic community and civil society 
organizations play in standards development activities for CET, and how 
can they increase their contributions to a private sector-led system?
    12. How can the U.S. Government better support state, local, and 
tribal governments in participating in standards development activities 
for CET?

USG NSSCET Objective 3: Workforce

    13. How can the U.S. Government leverage existing or develop new 
digital tools and resources that facilitate access to standards 
development processes, and increase engagement by private sector (i.e., 
industry, including start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises 
(SMEs), academic community, and civil society organizations) CET 
stakeholders?
    14. How can the U.S. Government incentivize the modification of 
existing curricula and/or the creation of new curricula, to include 
faculty professional development, by educational institutions for 
pedagogy to support standards development activities for CET?
    15. What standards development activities for CET can U.S. 
government and private sector (i.e., industry, including start-ups and 
small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academic community, and 
civil society organizations) stakeholders promote or develop to 
encourage increased participation by students and trainees?
    16. How can the U.S. Government support both private sector and 
public sector recognition for standards development expertise and how 
can this recognition be utilized to increase standards development 
activities for CET?

USG NSSCET Objective 4: Integrity and Inclusivity

    17. How can the U.S. Government work with private sector (i.e., 
industry, including start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises 
(SMEs), academic community, and civil society organizations) 
stakeholders to more effectively coordinate with international partners 
and reinforce private sector-led standards development activities for 
CET?
    18. How should the U.S. Government share information on standards 
development activities for CET with like-minded partners and allies?
    19. What standards information and tools can the U.S. government 
develop and promote to ensure U.S. exporters can compete in global 
markets for CET?
    20. How can the U.S. Government further advance the design and 
implementation of technical assistance programs for CET that enable 
broad and inclusive participation by developing countries in 
international SDOs?
    21. How can the U.S. Government work with international partners to 
ensure that standards for CET are developed in a way that supports U.S. 
interests, including a commitment to free and fair market competition 
in which the best technologies come to market?
    22. How can the U.S. Government make the United States a more 
desirable location to hold international standards meetings, events, 
and activities for CET?

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2023-19245 Filed 9-6-23; 8:45 am]
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