Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees, 28084-28085 [2021-11047]

Download as PDF jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 28084 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 25, 2021 / Notices education, jobs, and healthcare.’’ 1 Digitally connected Americans provide the modern workforce, creative innovation, and growing customer base to help sustain our nation’s global competitiveness; data from the NTIA Internet Use Survey will inform policies aimed at achieving digital equity so that the internet’s benefits are accessible to all Americans. The research and policy analysis enabled by this data collection are particularly important as the nation recovers from a pandemic that has further highlighted the importance of the internet in daily life. NTIA is working with Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), other federal agencies, state and local governments, as well as with industry and nonprofits to develop and promote policies that foster ubiquitous broadband deployment, adoption, and effective use. These policies help to ensure that families and businesses can obtain competitively priced high-speed internet service, and that everyone is able to gain the skills necessary to use the technology. Collecting current, systematic, and comprehensive information on internet use and non-use by U.S. households is critical to enabling policymakers to gauge progress made to date, and also to identify specific areas and demographic groups in which adoption is a concern with a specificity that permits carefully targeted and cost-effective responses. The U.S. Census Bureau is widely regarded as a premier data collector based on centuries of experience and rigorous scientific methods. Collection of NTIA’s requested internet usage data will occur in conjunction with a future edition of the U.S. Census Bureau’s CPS, thereby significantly reducing the potential burdens on the U.S. Census Bureau and on surveyed households. The U.S. government has an increasingly pressing need for comprehensive data in this area. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), NTIA, and the FCC have issued reports noting the importance of useful broadband data for policymakers. Moreover, Congress passed legislation— the Broadband Data Improvement Act in 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, the Broadband DATA Act, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021—wholly or in part to address this deficiency. Modifying the CPS to include NTIA’s requested internet use 1 ‘‘Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, April 7, 2021,’’ available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/04/07/pressbriefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-and-secretaryof-commerce-gina-raimondo-april-7-2021/. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:09 May 24, 2021 Jkt 253001 questions will enable the Commerce Department and NTIA to respond to congressional concerns and directives. NTIA has made a copy of the proposed information collection instrument available at https:// www.ntia.gov/other-publication/2021/ request-comments-ntias-draft-internetuse-survey. II. Method of Collection The NTIA Internet Use Survey will be administered by the U.S. Census Bureau as a supplement to the CPS. Data will be collected through personal visits and live telephone interviews using computer-assisted telephone interviewing and computer-assisted personal interviewing. OMB Control Number: 0660–0021. Form Number(s): None. Type of Review: Regular submission (Revision of a current information collection). Affected Public: Individuals and households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 54,000 households. Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,000. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 902(b)(2)(M), (P). IV. Request for Comments We are soliciting public comments to permit NTIA to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your Frm 00032 Sheleen Dumas, Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Commerce Department. [FR Doc. 2021–10986 Filed 5–24–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–60–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO–C–2021–0031] III. Data PO 00000 personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: 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 (1999 Act), 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 (PPAC), and trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC), and to advise the Director of the USPTO on these matters (now codified in the United States Code). 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 will 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. With this current notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to three members of the PPAC and up to three members of the TPAC, for terms of three years that will begin on December 1, 2021. DATES: Nominations must be electronically transmitted on or before July 9, 2021. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations will be required to electronically complete the appropriate Public Advisory Committee application SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM 25MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 25, 2021 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES form by entering detailed information and qualifications at: https:// tinyurl.com/ynae4a67 for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or https:// tinyurl.com/hcux6462 for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cordelia Zecher, 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 PPAC and TPAC members shall: • 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 (35 U.S.C. 5); 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 (Secretary), 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. Id. Public Advisory Committees The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine voting members who are appointed by 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 USPTO with respect to patents, in the case of the PPAC, and trademarks, in the case of the TPAC. 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 a ‘‘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 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:// obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/ 2009/09/23/lobbyists-agency-boardsand-commissions (Sept. 23, 2009); cf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:09 May 24, 2021 Jkt 253001 E.O. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (Jan. 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 PPAC and TPAC Each newly appointed member of the PPAC and TPAC will serve for a threeyear term that begins on December 1, 2021, and ends on December 1, 2024. As required by the 1999 Act, members of the PPAC and TPAC will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) they attend meetings or engage in the business of their 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 5 U.S.C. 5314. Committee members are compensated on an hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or their regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703. Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws Public Advisory Committee members are Special Government Employees within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 202. 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 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 comes before the member’s committee and that involves at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. Also, a member 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 PPAC and TPAC Meetings of each Public Advisory Committee will take place at the call of PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28085 the respective Committee Chair to consider an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings may be conducted in person, telephonically, online, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each Public Advisory Committee will be open to the public, except each Public Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in an executive session when considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential information. Nominees must have the ability to participate in Public Advisory Committee business through the internet. Andrew Hirshfeld, Commissioner for Patents, 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. 2021–11047 Filed 5–24–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Agricultural Advisory Committee Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announces that on June 9, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) will hold a public meeting via teleconference. At this meeting, the AAC will receive a report from the Subcommittee to Evaluate Commission Policy with Respect to Implementation of Amendments to Enumerated Agricultural Futures Contracts with Open Interest (Ag-OI). The meeting will also include a discussion on global agricultural commodity derivatives contracts and other agricultural risk management issues. DATES: The meeting will be held on June 9, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Please note that the teleconference may end early if the AAC has completed its business. Members of the public who wish to submit written statements in connection with the meeting should submit them by June 16, 2021. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via teleconference. You may submit public comments on the CFTC website: https://comments.cftc.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments through the Comments Online process on the website. If you are unable to submit comments online, please contact Summer SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM 25MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28084-28085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11047]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-C-2021-0031]


Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: 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 (1999 Act), 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 (PPAC), and 
trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee 
(TPAC), and to advise the Director of the USPTO on these matters (now 
codified in the United States Code). 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 will 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. With 
this current notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to 
three members of the PPAC and up to three members of the TPAC, for 
terms of three years that will begin on December 1, 2021.

DATES: Nominations must be electronically transmitted on or before July 
9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations will be required to 
electronically complete the appropriate Public Advisory Committee 
application

[[Page 28085]]

form by entering detailed information and qualifications at: https://tinyurl.com/ynae4a67 for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or 
https://tinyurl.com/hcux6462 for the Trademark Public Advisory 
Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cordelia Zecher, 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 PPAC and TPAC members shall:
     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 (35 U.S.C. 5); 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 (Secretary), 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. Id.

Public Advisory Committees

    The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine voting 
members who are appointed by 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 USPTO 
with respect to patents, in the case of the PPAC, and trademarks, in 
the case of the TPAC. 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 a ``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 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://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2009/09/23/lobbyists-agency-boards-and-commissions (Sept. 23, 2009); cf. E.O. 13490, 74 FR 4673 
(Jan. 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 PPAC and TPAC

    Each newly appointed member of the PPAC and TPAC will serve for a 
three-year term that begins on December 1, 2021, and ends on December 
1, 2024. As required by the 1999 Act, members of the PPAC and TPAC will 
receive compensation for each day (including travel time) they attend 
meetings or engage in the business of their 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 5 U.S.C. 5314. Committee members are 
compensated on an hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While 
away from home or their regular place of business, each member shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as 
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703.

Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws

    Public Advisory Committee members are Special Government Employees 
within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 202. 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 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 comes before the member's committee and that 
involves at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 
U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. Also, a member 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 PPAC and TPAC

    Meetings of each Public 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, 
online, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each Public 
Advisory Committee will be open to the public, except each Public 
Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in an executive session 
when considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential 
information. Nominees must have the ability to participate in Public 
Advisory Committee business through the internet.

Andrew Hirshfeld,
Commissioner for Patents, 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. 2021-11047 Filed 5-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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