[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]
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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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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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