[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76187-76188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24444]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket Number: 230818-0199]


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

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

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is 
extending the period for submitting comments to support the development 
of an implementation plan for the United States Government National 
Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET) 
until December 22, 2023. In a Request for Information (RFI) that 
published in the Federal Register on September 7, 2023, NIST requested 
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 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 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on December 
22, 2023. Comments received after November 6, 2023 and before 
publication of this notice are deemed to be timely. Submissions 
received after December 22, 2023 may not be considered. Those who have 
already submitted comments need not resubmit.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by either of the following 
methods:
     Electronic submission: Submit electronic public comments 
via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter NIST-2023-0005 in the search 
field,
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, 
and
    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: Standards Coordination Office (SCO), NIST via email at 
[email protected] or by phone at (301) 975-5633. 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: In an RFI that published in the Federal 
Register on September 7, 2023 (88 FR 61527), NIST requested 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

[[Page 76188]]

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
 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 extending the comment period announced in the September 7, 
2023 RFI from November 6, 2023 to December 15, 2023 in response to 
stakeholder requests for more time to respond to this important issue.
    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.

Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2023-24444 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]
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