Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees, 29847-29848 [2017-13769]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Notices the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on spectrum management policy matters. DATES: The meeting will be held on August 15, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Boulder Flatiron Hotel, 500 Flatiron Boulevard, Broomfield, CO 80021. Public comments may be mailed to Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4600, Washington, DC 20230 or emailed to dreed@ ntia.doc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David J. Reed, Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 482–5955 or dreed@ ntia.doc.gov; and/or visit NTIA’s Web site at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ category/csmac. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information on needed reforms to domestic spectrum policies and management in order to: License radio frequencies in a way that maximizes public benefits; keep wireless networks as open to innovation as possible; and make wireless services available to all Americans. See Charter at https:// www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/ publications/csmac_charter-2017.pdf. This Committee is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and is consistent with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Act, 47 U.S.C. 904(b). The Committee functions solely as an advisory body in compliance with the FACA. For more information about the Committee visit: https://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/ csmac. Matters to Be Considered: The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary to assist in developing and maintaining spectrum management policies that enable the United States to maintain or strengthen its global leadership role in the introduction of communications technology, services, and innovation; thus expanding the economy, adding jobs, and increasing international trade, while at the same time providing for the expansion of existing technologies and supporting the country’s homeland security, national defense, and other critical needs of government missions. NTIA will post a detailed agenda on its Web site, https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ category/csmac, prior to the meeting. To the extent that time and the meeting VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jun 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 agenda permit, any member of the public may speak to or otherwise address the Committee regarding the agenda items. See Open Meeting and Public Participation Policy, available at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/ csmac. Time and Date: The meeting will be held on August 15, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. MDT. The meeting time and the agenda topics are subject to change. The meeting will be available via two-way audio link and may be webcast. Please refer to NTIA’s Web site, https://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/ csmac, for the most up-to-date meeting agenda and access information. Place: The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Boulder Flatiron Hotel, 500 Flatiron Boulevard, Broomfield, CO 80021. The meeting will be open to the public and members of the press on a first-come, first-served basis as space is limited. The public meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary aids, are asked to notify Mr. Reed at (202) 482– 5955 or dreed@ntia.doc.gov at least ten (10) business days before the meeting. Status: Interested parties and members of the public are invited to attend and to submit written comments to the Committee at any time before or after the meeting. Parties wishing to submit written comments for consideration by the Committee in advance of a meeting may send them via postal mail to Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4600, Washington, DC 20230. It would be helpful if paper submissions also include a compact disc (CD) that contains the comments in Microsoft Word and/or PDF file formats. CDs should be labeled with the name and organizational affiliation of the filer. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via electronic mail to dreed@ ntia.doc.gov and should also be in one or both of the file formats specified above. Comments must be received five (5) business days before the scheduled meeting date in order to provide sufficient time for review. Comments received after this date will be distributed to the Committee, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting. Records: NTIA maintains records of all Committee proceedings. Committee records are available for public inspection at NTIA’s Washington, DC office at the address above. Documents including the Committee’s charter, member list, agendas, minutes, and PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 29847 reports are available on NTIA’s Web site at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/ csmac. Dated: June 27, 2017. Kathy D. Smith, Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. [FR Doc. 2017–13776 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–60–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTC–C–2017–0028] Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees. AGENCY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ‘‘Act’’), Public Law 106–113, which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters. The America Invents Act Technical Corrections Act made several amendments to the 1999 Act, including the requirement that the terms of the USPTO Public Advisory Committee members be realigned by 2014, so that December 1 be used as the start and end date, with terms staggered so that each year three existing terms expire and three new terms begin on December 1. Through this Notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to three (3) members of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and for up to three (3) members of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, for terms of three years that begin on December 1, 2017. DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 25, 2017. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the nominee’s ´ resume by postal mail to Brendan McCommas, Acting Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM 30JNN1 29848 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Notices mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313–1450 or by electronic mail to: PPACnominations@ uspto.gov for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or TPACnominations@ uspto.gov for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brendan McCommas, Acting Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272– 8600. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committees’ duties include: • Review and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on matters relating to policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the USPTO relating to patents and trademarks, respectively; and • Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year: (1) Prepare an annual report on matters listed above; (2) transmit the report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and (3) publish the report in the Official Gazette of the USPTO. Advisory Committees The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the ‘‘Secretary’’) and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for three-year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment for a second consecutive three-year term. The Public Advisory Committee members must be citizens of the United States and are chosen to represent the interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Members must represent small and large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to the number of applications filed by such applicants. The Committees must include individuals with ‘‘substantial background and achievement in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and office automation.’’ 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public Advisory Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each labor organization recognized by the USPTO. Administration policy discourages the appointment of federally registered lobbyists to agency advisory boards and commissions (Lobbyists on Agency VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jun 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 Boards and Commissions, https:// www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/ lobbyist-agency-boards-andcommissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. Order No. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (January 21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 does not specifically apply to federally registered lobbyists appointed by agency or department heads, it sets forth the Administration’s general policy of decreasing the influence of special interests in the Federal Government). Procedures and Guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Each newly appointed member of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will serve for a three-year term that begins on December 1, 2017, and ends on December 1, 2020. As required by the 1999 Act, members of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) while the member is attending meetings or engaged in the business of that Advisory Committee. The enabling statute states that members are to be compensated at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of Title 5, United States Code. Committee members are compensated on an hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code. Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws Public Advisory Committee Members are Special Government Employees within the meaning of Section 202 of Title 18, United States Code. The following additional information includes several, but not all, of the ethics rules that apply to members, and assumes that members are not engaged in Public Advisory Committee business more than 60 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. • Each member will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure form within thirty (30) days of appointment. 5 CFR 2634.202(c), 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b). • Each member will be subject to many of the public integrity laws, including criminal bars against representing a party in a particular matter that came before the member’s committee and that involved at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. A member also must not act on a matter PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 in which the member (or any of certain closely related entities) has a financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208. • Representation of foreign interests may also raise issues. 35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. 219. Meetings of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Meetings of each Advisory Committee will take place at the call of the respective Committee Chair to consider an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings may be conducted in person, telephonically, on-line through the Internet, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each Advisory Committee will be open to the public except each Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in executive session when considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential information. Nominees must have the ability to participate in Committee business through the Internet. Dated: June 26, 2017. Joseph Matal, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2017–13769 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office International Design Applications (Hague Agreement) Proposed extension of a continuing information collection; comment request. ACTION: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a proposed extension of an existing collection: 0651–0075 (International Design Applications (Hague Agreement)). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Email: InformationCollection@ uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0075 comment’’ in the subject line of the message. Federal Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, United States Patent and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM 30JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29847-29848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13769]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTC-C-2017-0028]


Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark 
Public Advisory Committees.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent 
and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ``Act''), Public Law 106-113, 
which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees 
to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to 
patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with 
respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory 
Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters. The America 
Invents Act Technical Corrections Act made several amendments to the 
1999 Act, including the requirement that the terms of the USPTO Public 
Advisory Committee members be realigned by 2014, so that December 1 be 
used as the start and end date, with terms staggered so that each year 
three existing terms expire and three new terms begin on December 1. 
Through this Notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to 
three (3) members of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and for up 
to three (3) members of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, for 
terms of three years that begin on December 1, 2017.

DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on 
or before July 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the 
nominee's resum[eacute] by postal mail to Brendan McCommas, Acting 
Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Intellectual Property and Director of the

[[Page 29848]]

USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 or by 
electronic mail to: PPACnominations@uspto.gov for the Patent Public 
Advisory Committee, or TPACnominations@uspto.gov for the Trademark 
Public Advisory Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brendan McCommas, Acting Chief of 
Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual 
Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272-8600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committees' duties include:
     Review and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on matters relating to 
policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the USPTO 
relating to patents and trademarks, respectively; and
     Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year: (1) 
Prepare an annual report on matters listed above; (2) transmit the 
report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees 
on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and 
(3) publish the report in the Official Gazette of the USPTO.

Advisory Committees

    The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting 
members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the 
``Secretary'') and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for three-
year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment for a second 
consecutive three-year term. The Public Advisory Committee members must 
be citizens of the United States and are chosen to represent the 
interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public 
Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the 
Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Members must represent small and 
large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to 
the number of applications filed by such applicants. The Committees 
must include individuals with ``substantial background and achievement 
in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and 
office automation.'' 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public Advisory 
Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each 
labor organization recognized by the USPTO. Administration policy 
discourages the appointment of federally registered lobbyists to agency 
advisory boards and commissions (Lobbyists on Agency Boards and 
Commissions, https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/lobbyist-agency-boards-and-commissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. Order No. 13490, 74 
FR 4673 (January 21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 does not 
specifically apply to federally registered lobbyists appointed by 
agency or department heads, it sets forth the Administration's general 
policy of decreasing the influence of special interests in the Federal 
Government).

Procedures and Guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory 
Committees

    Each newly appointed member of the Patent and Trademark Public 
Advisory Committees will serve for a three-year term that begins on 
December 1, 2017, and ends on December 1, 2020. As required by the 1999 
Act, members of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees 
will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) while 
the member is attending meetings or engaged in the business of that 
Advisory Committee. The enabling statute states that members are to be 
compensated at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in 
effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of 
Title 5, United States Code. Committee members are compensated on an 
hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or 
regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code.

Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws

    Public Advisory Committee Members are Special Government Employees 
within the meaning of Section 202 of Title 18, United States Code. The 
following additional information includes several, but not all, of the 
ethics rules that apply to members, and assumes that members are not 
engaged in Public Advisory Committee business more than 60 days during 
any period of 365 consecutive days.
     Each member will be required to file a confidential 
financial disclosure form within thirty (30) days of appointment. 5 CFR 
2634.202(c), 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b).
     Each member will be subject to many of the public 
integrity laws, including criminal bars against representing a party in 
a particular matter that came before the member's committee and that 
involved at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 
U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. A member also must not act on a 
matter in which the member (or any of certain closely related entities) 
has a financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208.
     Representation of foreign interests may also raise issues. 
35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. 219.

Meetings of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees

    Meetings of each Advisory Committee will take place at the call of 
the respective Committee Chair to consider an agenda set by that Chair. 
Meetings may be conducted in person, telephonically, on-line through 
the Internet, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each 
Advisory Committee will be open to the public except each Advisory 
Committee may, by majority vote, meet in executive session when 
considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential information. 
Nominees must have the ability to participate in Committee business 
through the Internet.

    Dated: June 26, 2017.
Joseph Matal,
Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-13769 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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