[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14636-14637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04118]



[[Page 14636]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination 
Application

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on 
the extension of an existing information collection: 0651-0060 
(National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Application). 
The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment 
preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information 
collection must be received on or before April 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business 
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0060 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information 
should be directed to Linda Hosler, National Partnerships Team, Office 
of the Chief Communications Officer, United States Patent and Trademark 
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-
272-8514; or by email at [email protected] with ``0651-0060 
comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about this 
information collection is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov 
under ``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) is the 
highest honor for technological achievement bestowed by the President 
of the United States on America's leading innovators. Established by an 
Act of Congress in 1980, the Medal of Technology was first awarded in 
1985.\1\ The Medal is awarded annually to individuals, teams (up to 
four individuals), companies, or divisions of companies. The Medal 
recognizes outstanding contributions to the nation's economic, 
environmental, and social well-being through the development and 
commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts, 
technological innovation, and development of the nation's technological 
workforce. By highlighting the national importance for technological 
innovation, the Medal also seeks to inspire future generations of 
Americans to prepare for and pursue technical careers to keep America 
at the forefront of global technology and economic leadership.
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    \1\ https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-programs-and-awards/national-medal-technology-and-innovation-nmti.
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    The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Evaluation 
Committee, a distinguished independent committee appointed by the 
Secretary of Commerce, reviews and evaluates the merit of all 
candidates nominated through an open, competitive solicitation process. 
The committee makes its recommendations for Medal candidates to the 
Secretary of Commerce who, in turn, makes recommendations to the 
President for final selection.
    This information collection covers data gathered in the NMTI 
Nomination Application, which the public uses to nominate an 
individual's, team's, or company's extraordinary leadership and 
innovation in technological achievement and outstanding contribution to 
strengthening the nation's technological workforce. The application 
collects general and biographical information about the nominee, 
general information about the nominator, and a description of the 
nominee's contribution/achievements, and must be accompanied by up to 
six letters of recommendation or support from individuals who have 
first-hand knowledge of the cited achievement(s).

II. Method of Collection

    The information in this information collection can be submitted 
electronically through the USPTO website via the online portal.\2\
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    \2\ https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-programs-and-awards/national-medal-technology-and-innovation-nmti.
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III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0651-0060.
    Forms: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 50 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 50 responses.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses 
in this information collection will take the public approximately 40 
hours to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary 
information, prepare the nomination application, write the 
recommendations, and submit the nomination to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 2,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $118,420.
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    \3\ The combined average of the hourly rates in the May 2022 
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, released by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics, for:
     professors (physical scientists) (OES 19-2099--https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes192099.htm);
     civil engineers (OES 17-2051--https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172051.htm; and
     computer and information research scientists (OES 15-
1221--https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes151221.htm).

                                   Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Individual or Household Respondents
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                                                                                                 Estimated                                   Estimated
                                                       Estimated    Responses      Estimated      time for      Estimated    Rate \3\ ($/     annual
            Item No.                     Item            annual        per          annual        response    burden (hour/     hour)       respondent
                                                      respondents   respondent     responses      (hours)         year)                     cost burden
                                  ..................          (a)          (b)     (a) x (b) =          (d)     (c) x (d) =          (f)     (e) x (f) =
                                                                                           (c)                          (e)                          (g)
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1...............................  NMTI Nomination              50            1              50           40           2,000       $59.21        $118,420
                                   Application.
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[[Page 14637]]

 
                                   Totals...........           50  ...........              50  ...........           2,000  ...........         118,420
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    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-Hourly Cost Burden: $0. There 
are no capital start-up, maintenance costs, recordkeeping costs, filing 
fees, or postage costs associated with this information collection.

IV. Request for Comments

    The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
    (a) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the 
request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including 
an address, phone number, email address, or other personally 
identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be aware that the entire 
comment--including PII--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you may ask in your comment to withhold PII from public view, 
USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

Justin Isaac,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-04118 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
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