[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P