81 FR 62479 - National Broadband Research Agenda
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 175 (September 9, 2016)
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 175 (September 9, 2016)
| Page Range | 62479-62481 | |
| FR Document | 2016-21771 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 62479-62481] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-21771] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION [Docket No. 160831803-6803-01] RIN 0660-XC031 National Broadband Research Agenda AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce; National Science Foundation. ACTION: Notice, request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In furtherance of the Broadband Opportunity Council's recommendation to improve data collection, analysis and research on broadband, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) request public comments to inform the development of a National Broadband Research Agenda (Agenda) in collaboration with the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program and other agencies that form the Council. This Agenda will reflect the most significant opportunities for data collection, analysis, and research to keep pace with, and take advantage of, the massive digital changes that permeate our economy and society. DATES: Submit written comments on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 11, 2016. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by email to: [email protected]. Include ``National Broadband Research Agenda'' in the subject line of the message. Comments submitted by email should be machine-readable and should not be copy-protected. Written comments may also be submitted by mail to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4887, Attn: National Broadband Research Agenda, Washington DC 20230. Responders should include the name of the person or organization filing the comment, as well as a page number on each page of the submission. Enclose a CD or DVD version of your submission labeled with the name and organization of the filer. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/2016/comments-national-broadband-research-agenda without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by commenters may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NTIA will accept anonymous comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francine Alkisswani, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4621, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5560; email: [email protected]; or Jack T. Brassil, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1175.31N, Arlington, VA 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8950; email: [email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs; email: [email protected]; telephone: (202) 482-7002. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background In March 2015, President Obama created the Broadband Opportunity Council (Council), composed of 25 federal departments and agencies, to determine actions that the federal government could take to eliminate barriers to broadband deployment, competition, and adoption and encourage investment through executive actions within the scope of existing agency programs, missions, and budgets.\1\ The U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture co-chaired the Council. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, Presidential Memorandum--Expanding Broadband Deployment and Adoption by Addressing Regulatory Barriers and Encouraging Investment and Training (March 23, 2015), available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/23/presidential-memorandum-expanding-broadband-deployment-and-adoption-addr. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In September 2015, the White House released the Council's report, which described 36 concrete steps the member agencies would take to reduce barriers, incentivize investment, promote best practices, align funding policies and decisions, and support broadband deployment and adoption.\2\ One of the actions in the report called for NTIA and NSF to develop a national broadband research agenda with input from other federal agencies and the broader research community. This Notice seeks recommendations from all members of the research community to support the development of the Agenda. This input will supplement input received through an NSF-sponsored visioning workshop.\3\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ Broadband Opportunity Council, Report and Recommendations Pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum on Expanding Broadband Deployment and Adoption by Addressing Regulatory Barriers and Encouraging Investment and Training (Aug. 20, 2015) at 12, available at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/broadband_opportunity_council_report_final.pdf. \3\ The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the Pennsylvania State University, Institute of Information Policy (IIP) to organize a visioning workshop with leading experts in academia, industry, and government on June 16-17, 2016, at the NSF in Arlington, Virginia. See the details of the ``Broadband 2021'' workshop at https://broadband.ist.psu.edu/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Objectives of This Notice This Notice seeks input to improve data collection, analysis, research, and their applications for the benefit of broadband policy development, program implementation, and program evaluation. A robust broadband research [[Page 62480]] agenda will also help external stakeholders, especially those whose research initiatives rely on federal data, reporting, funding, coordination, and other federal resources and support. This Notice seeks such input in four specific areas: (i) Broadband technology; (ii) broadband deployment, adoption, and utilization by individual, business, and institutional users; (iii) assessment of economic and social impacts; and (iv) opportunities for federal leadership in data collection, research, and overall coordination. The success of the Agenda requires not only high-impact, cutting- edge proposals across data collection, analysis, and research, but also an overall strategic plan that is achievable. Thus, through this Notice, NTIA and NSF seek recommendations, best practices, and solutions to current challenges with regard to: Promising research and analytical methodologies; effective approaches for data collection and sharing; opportunities for better alignment and coordination for these research efforts across all federal and external stakeholders; funding strategies with suggestions for prioritization and public-private resource sharing; and possible changes to federal policies and programs that could enhance broadband research. NTIA and NSF also encourage interested parties to recommend any other suggestions (e.g., research topics, implementation approaches) if the concepts are not articulated in this Notice. III. Request for Comments Instructions for Commenters: Commenters are encouraged to address any or all of the following questions. Commenters responding to specific questions should label the response with a question number. Comments that contain references to studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of (or links to) the referenced materials with the submitted comments. For any response, commenters may wish to consider describing specific goals and action(s) that NTIA and/or NSF, or other federal agencies, may take (independently or in conjunction with the private sector) to achieve those goals; the benefits and costs associated with the action(s); whether the proposal is agency-specific or interagency; the rationale and evidence to support the proposal; and the roles of other stakeholders. A. Broadband Technology Comments under this heading should address research and evaluation as related to broadband technology development and innovation. The broadband technology landscape continues to reflect rapid innovation and advancement, across all levels of the broadband technology value chain, e.g., platforms, networks, devices, services, applications. These advances have yielded a myriad of new products and services, and improved the quality and performance of existing ones. Questions related to technology research follow: 1. What are the critical data and research needs in the areas of broadband technology and innovation? 2. What specific technology research proposals, and associated methodologies, should be prioritized to support the advancement of broadband technology? And why? 3. What specific technology research proposals can support federal efforts to foster the access and adoption of broadband technology across rural areas, and other unserved and underserved segments, such as population groups that have traditionally under-utilized broadband technology (e.g., seniors, low-income families, persons with disabilities)? B. Broadband Access and Adoption Comments under this heading should address research and evaluation as related to programs, services, and applications that drive broadband access, adoption, and utilization for individuals and their families, businesses, and institutions. Questions related to broadband deployment and adoption follow: 4. What are the critical data and research needs in the areas of broadband deployment and access? 5. What specific research proposals, and associated methodologies, regarding broadband access should be prioritized? And why? 6. What are specific areas for federally-supported research as related to key market trends that impact broadband deployment, including business models, public-private partnerships, sustainability drivers, the removal of regulatory barriers? 7. What are the critical data and research needs in the areas of broadband adoption and utilization? 8. What specific research proposals, and associated methodologies, regarding broadband adoption and utilization should be prioritized? And why? 9. What specific research and data are needed to understand how rural residents and other population groups that have traditionally under-utilized broadband technology (e.g., seniors, low-income families, persons with disabilities) can better adopt and use broadband? C. Socioeconomic Impacts Comments under this heading should address research and evaluation as related to measuring the social and economic impacts of deploying and/or using broadband. Understanding the economic and social impact of broadband on the American society influences the prioritization, design, and evaluation of federal policies and programs. Questions related to socioeconomic impact follow: 10. What are the critical data and research needs in the area of broadband and its economic and social impact? 11. What specific research proposals, and associated methodologies, regarding the socioeconomic impact of broadband should be prioritized? 12. Are there specific socioeconomic research areas that can help measure the effectiveness of federal programs seeking to foster broadband access, adoption, or competition? D. Opportunities for Federal Leadership in Data Collection and Research Comments under this heading should address proposals for implementing the suggestions and recommendations discussed above. The Agenda will include a strategic plan that includes specific initiatives, measurable goals, and identification of the key resources necessary for implementation. Resources and leadership will be required across a multitude of stakeholders (e.g., federal government, industry, academia). Questions related to opportunities for federal leadership and engagement with stakeholders follow: 13. What opportunities exist to improve the sharing of research from federal research programs with external stakeholders (e.g., industry, academia)? Likewise, how can external stakeholders better share their research with federal agencies? 14. What are suggestions for enhancing cross-disciplinary collaboration in broadband research? 15. Given limited federal budgets and existing research efforts led by industry, academia, and other external groups, what specific role should the federal government play in the area of broadband research (e.g., funding, data gathering, coordination)? 16. Are there opportunities to collect new broadband-related data or expand current data sets within federal programs that fund and/or produce research? 17. What data (whether public or commercial/proprietary) would [[Page 62481]] facilitate ground-breaking research related to broadband, if that data were to become available? 18. What are possible changes to federal policies and programs that could enhance broadband research? 19. What are recommendations for standardizing broadband and commonly-used demographic terms across the research community? How can these terms be operationalized to ensure comparability of data? Dated: September 6, 2016. Kathy D. Smith, Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Management Analyst, Office of the General Counsel, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2016-21771 Filed 9-8-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2016 / Notices 62479
attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ collection, analysis and research on email: jbrassil@nsf.gov. Please direct
5388009774335661059. broadband, the National media inquiries to NTIA’s Office of
After registering, you will receive a Telecommunications and Information Public Affairs; email: press@
confirmation email containing Administration (NTIA) and the National ntia.doc.gov; telephone: (202) 482–7002.
information about joining the webinar. Science Foundation (NSF) request SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Agenda is subject to change, and public comments to inform the
the latest version along with other development of a National Broadband I. Background
meeting materials will be posted on the Research Agenda (Agenda) in In March 2015, President Obama
Council’s file server. To access the file collaboration with the Networking and created the Broadband Opportunity
server, the URL is https:// Information Technology Research and Council (Council), composed of 25
public.gulfcouncil.org:5001/webman/ Development (NITRD) Program and federal departments and agencies, to
index.cgi, or go to the Council’s Web other agencies that form the Council. determine actions that the federal
site and click on the File Server link in This Agenda will reflect the most government could take to eliminate
the lower left of the Council Web site significant opportunities for data barriers to broadband deployment,
(http://www.gulfcouncil.org). The collection, analysis, and research to competition, and adoption and
username and password are both keep pace with, and take advantage of, encourage investment through executive
‘‘gulfguest’’. Click on the ‘‘Library the massive digital changes that actions within the scope of existing
Folder’’, then scroll down to ‘‘Data permeate our economy and society. agency programs, missions, and
Collection Technical Committee’’. DATES: Submit written comments on or budgets.1 The U.S. Departments of
The meeting will be webcast over the before 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Commerce and Agriculture co-chaired
internet. A link to the webcast will be October 11, 2016. the Council.
available on the Council’s Web site, ADDRESSES: Written comments may be In September 2015, the White House
http://www.gulfcouncil.org. submitted by email to: NBRArfc2016@ released the Council’s report, which
Although other non-emergency issues ntia.doc.gov. Include ‘‘National described 36 concrete steps the member
not on the agenda may come before the Broadband Research Agenda’’ in the agencies would take to reduce barriers,
Technical Committee for discussion, in subject line of the message. Comments incentivize investment, promote best
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens submitted by email should be machine- practices, align funding policies and
Fishery Conservation and Management readable and should not be copy- decisions, and support broadband
Act, those issues may not be the subject protected. Written comments may also deployment and adoption.2 One of the
of formal action during this meeting. be submitted by mail to the National actions in the report called for NTIA
Actions of the Technical Committee will Telecommunications and Information and NSF to develop a national
be restricted to those issues specifically Administration, U.S. Department of broadband research agenda with input
identified in the agenda and any issues Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue from other federal agencies and the
arising after publication of this notice NW., Room 4887, Attn: National broader research community. This
that require emergency action under Broadband Research Agenda, Notice seeks recommendations from all
Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Washington DC 20230. Responders members of the research community to
Fishery Conservation and Management should include the name of the person support the development of the Agenda.
Act, provided the public has been or organization filing the comment, as This input will supplement input
notified of the Council’s intent to take well as a page number on each page of received through an NSF-sponsored
action to address the emergency. the submission. Enclose a CD or DVD visioning workshop.3
Dated: September 6, 2016. version of your submission labeled with II. Objectives of This Notice
Tracey L. Thompson, the name and organization of the filer.
All comments received are a part of the This Notice seeks input to improve
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable data collection, analysis, research, and
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. public record and will generally be
posted to https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ their applications for the benefit of
[FR Doc. 2016–21729 Filed 9–8–16; 8:45 am] broadband policy development,
federal-register-notice/2016/comments-
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
national-broadband-research-agenda program implementation, and program
without change. All personal identifying evaluation. A robust broadband research
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE information (e.g., name, address) 1 The White House, Office of the Press Secretary,
voluntarily submitted by commenters Presidential Memorandum—Expanding Broadband
National Telecommunications and may be publicly accessible. Do not Deployment and Adoption by Addressing
Information Administration submit confidential business Regulatory Barriers and Encouraging Investment
information or otherwise sensitive or and Training (March 23, 2015), available at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/23/
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION protected information. NTIA will accept presidential-memorandum-expanding-broadband-
[Docket No. 160831803–6803–01]
anonymous comments. deployment-and-adoption-addr.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2 Broadband Opportunity Council, Report and
RIN 0660–XC031 Francine Alkisswani, National Recommendations Pursuant to the Presidential
Memorandum on Expanding Broadband
Telecommunications and Information Deployment and Adoption by Addressing
National Broadband Research Agenda Administration, U.S. Department of Regulatory Barriers and Encouraging Investment
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue and Training (Aug. 20, 2015) at 12, available at
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: National Telecommunications
NW., Room 4621, Washington, DC https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/
and Information Administration, U.S. broadband_opportunity_council_report_final.pdf.
Department of Commerce; National 20230; telephone: (202) 482–5560; 3 The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded
Science Foundation. email: falkisswani@ntia.doc.gov; or Jack the Pennsylvania State University, Institute of
ACTION: Notice, request for comments. T. Brassil, Computer and Information Information Policy (IIP) to organize a visioning
Science and Engineering, National workshop with leading experts in academia,
industry, and government on June 16–17, 2016, at
SUMMARY: In furtherance of the Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson the NSF in Arlington, Virginia. See the details of
Broadband Opportunity Council’s Boulevard, Room 1175.31N, Arlington, the ‘‘Broadband 2021’’ workshop at https://
recommendation to improve data VA 22230; telephone: (703) 292–8950; broadband.ist.psu.edu/.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2016 / Notices 62481
facilitate ground-breaking research and Trademark Office campus in COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
related to broadband, if that data were Alexandria, Virginia. PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
to become available? The Secretary of Commerce is SEVERELY DISABLED
18. What are possible changes to
responsible for recommending to the
federal policies and programs that could Procurement List; Proposed Deletions
President prospective NMTI recipients.
enhance broadband research?
19. What are recommendations for The NMTI Nomination Evaluation AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From
standardizing broadband and Committee evaluates the nominations People Who Are Blind or Severely
commonly-used demographic terms received pursuant to public solicitation Disabled.
across the research community? How and makes its recommendations for the
can these terms be operationalized to Medal to the Secretary. Committee ACTION:Proposed Deletions from the
ensure comparability of data? members are distinguished experts in Procurement List.
the fields of science, technology,
Dated: September 6, 2016. SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing
business, and patent law drawn from
Kathy D. Smith, to delete products and a service from
both the public and private sectors and
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications are appointed by the Secretary for three- the Procurement List that was
and Information Administration. previously furnished by nonprofit
year terms.
Suzanne H. Plimpton, agencies employing persons who are
In order to complete the 2015 NMTI
Management Analyst, Office of the General blind or have other severe disabilities.
Counsel, National Science Foundation. selection process prior to the next cycle
[FR Doc. 2016–21771 Filed 9–8–16; 8:45 am]
of awards, USPTO asked the members of DATES: Comments must be received on
the Evaluation Committee to meet as or before 10/9/2016.
BILLING CODE 3510–60–P
soon as possible. Because the committee ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
is newly formed and has multiple From People Who Are Blind or Severely
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE scheduling conflicts, September 9, 2016 Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite
is the best date available for the 715, Arlington, Virginia, 22202–4149.
Patent and Trademark Office committee to meet in order to make
timely recommendations to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT
[Docket ID: PTO–C–2016–0033; Docket
Secretary of Commerce. COMMENTS CONTACT: Barry S. Lineback,
Type: Nonrulemaking; Docket Phase:
Notice] Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
The NMTI Nomination Evaluation
603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@
Committee was established in
National Medal of Technology and AbilityOne.gov.
accordance with the FACA. The
Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee meeting will be closed to the
Committee Meeting SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
public in accordance with the FACA notice is published pursuant to 41
AGENCY: United States Patent and and 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) and (9)(B), U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
Trademark Office. because the discussion of the relative purpose is to provide interested persons
ACTION: Notice of closed meeting. merit of the Medal nominations is likely an opportunity to submit comments on
to disclose information of a personal the proposed actions.
SUMMARY: The National Medal of nature that would constitute a clearly
Technology and Innovation (NMTI) unwarranted invasion of personal Deletions
Nomination Evaluation Committee will privacy and premature disclosure of the The following products and service
meet in closed session on September 9, Committee’s recommendations would are proposed for deletion from the
2016. The primary purpose of the be likely to significantly frustrate Procurement List:
meeting is to discuss the relative merits implementation of the Medal Program.
of persons, teams, and companies Products
nominated for the 2015 NMTI. The Chief Financial Officer and
Product Name(s)—NSN(s): 6530–01–163–
Assistant Secretary for Administration,
DATES: The meeting will convene on 3704—Cup, Specimen
United States Department of Commerce,
September 9, 2016, at approximately 9 Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans
a.m., and adjourn at approximately 5 formally determined on September 6, Affairs
p.m. 2016 pursuant to Section 10(d) of the Product Name(s)—NSN(s):
FACA, that the meeting may be closed 6532–00–914–3069—Shirt, Operating,
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at because Committee members are Surgical
the United States Patent and Trademark concerned with matters that are within 6532–00–914–3070—Shirt, Operating,
Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, the purview of 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) and Surgical
VA 22314. (9)(B). Due to closure of this meeting, 6532–00–914–3071—Shirt, Operating,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John copies of any minutes of the meeting Surgical
Palafoutas, Program Manager, National will not be available. A copy of the Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics
Medal of Technology and Innovation determination is available for public Agency Troop Support
Program, United States Patent and inspection at the United States Patent Product Name(s)—NSN(s): 7350–01–138–
Trademark Office, P.O. Box, Alexandria, 0022—Pitcher, Water
and Trademark Office.
VA 22313; telephone (571) 272–9821; or Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
by electronic mail: nmti@uspto.gov. Dated: September 7, 2016. Affairs
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant Russell Slifer, Service
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Service Type: Administrative/General
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of Support Service
hereby given that the NMTI Nomination the United States Patent and Trademark Mandatory for: GSA, Southwest Supply
Evaluation Committee, chartered to the Office. Center, 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX
United States Department of Commerce, [FR Doc. 2016–21871 Filed 9–8–16; 8:45 am] Mandatory Source(s) of Supply: Travis
will meet at the United States Patent BILLING CODE 3510–16–P Association for the Blind, Austin, TX
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Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:15:09
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:15:09
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice, request for comments. | |
| Dates | Submit written comments on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 11, 2016. | |
| Contact | Francine Alkisswani, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4621, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5560; email: [email protected]; or Jack T. Brassil, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1175.31N, Arlington, VA 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8950; email: [email protected] Please direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs; email: [email protected]; telephone: (202) 482-7002. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 62479 | |
| RIN Number | 0660-XC03 |
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