42 USC 18951 - International standards development

View all text of Part B [§ 18951 - § 18952]

§ 18951. International standards development

(a) Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the principles of openness, transparency, due process, balance of interests, appeals, and consensus in the development of international standards are critical;

(2) voluntary consensus standards, developed through an industry-led process, serve as the cornerstone of the United States standardization system and have become the basis of a sound national economy and the key to global market access;

(3) strengthening the unique United States public-private partnerships approach to standards development is critical to United States economic competitiveness; and

(4) the United States Government should ensure cooperation and coordination across Federal agencies to partner with and support private sector stakeholders to continue to shape international dialogues in regard to standards development for emerging technologies.

(b) International standards engagement

(1) In general

(2) RequirementsTo support private sector-led engagement and ensure effective Federal engagement in the development and use of international technical standards, the Director shall consider—

(A) the role and needs of the Federal Government with respect to international technical standards;

(B) organizations developing international technical standards of interest to the United States, United States representation and influence in these organizations, and key contributors for technical and leadership expertise in these organizations;

(C) support for persons with domain subject matter expertise, especially from small businesses located in the United States, to influence and engage in technical standards leadership positions, working groups and meetings;

(D) opportunities for partnerships for supporting international technical standards from across the Federal Government, Federally funded research and development centers, university-affiliated research centers, institutions of higher education, industry, industry associations, nonprofit organizations, and other key contributors;

(E) support for activities to encourage the adoption of technical standards developed in the United States to be adopted by international standards organizations; and

(F) other activities determined by the Director to be necessary to support United States participation in international standards development, economic competitiveness, and national security in the development and use of international technical standards.

(c) Capacity building guidanceThe Director shall support education and workforce development efforts to promote United States participation in international standards organizations. The Director shall—

(1) identify and create, as appropriate, technical standards education and training resources for interested businesses, industry associations, academia, nonprofit organizations, Federal agencies, and other relevant standards contributors, including activities targeted at integrating standards span into undergraduate and graduate curricula in science, engineering, business, public policy, and law;

(2) conduct outreach, including to private sector leaders, to support engagement by more United States stakeholders in international technical standards development; and

(3) other activities determined necessary by the Director to support increased engagement, influence, and leadership of United States organizations in the development of international technical standards.

(d) Capacity building pilot program

(1) In general

(2) Use of fundsGrants awarded to eligible entities under this subsection may be used to cover reasonable costs, up to a specified ceiling set by the Director, of activities to support increased engagement and leadership of eligible entity employees in international standards organizations, which may include costs associated with—

(A) travel;

(B) education and training;

(D) other such costs that the Director determines may reasonably support participation of the eligible entity in international standards organizations.

(3) Award criteriaThe Director shall ensure that award decisions made under this subsection take into account the extent to which the eligible entity—

(A) employs full-time an individual or individuals who demonstrate deep technical standards expertise;

(B) employs full-time an individual or individuals who demonstrate knowledge with the processes of the standards development organization in which the eligible entity intends to engage using grant funds;

(D) explains how the eligible entity will fund additional standards-related activities necessary to achieve the deliverables referred to in subparagraph (C) if the grant funds are insufficient to cover all costs of such activities;

(E) commits personnel with appropriate expertise to regularly engage in relevant international organizations responsible for developing technical standards over the period of the grant; and

(F) identifies a clearly defined current or anticipated market need or gap that would be addressed by their standards development proposal.

(4) Eligibility

(5) Guidance on application and award process

(6) Merit review process

(7) Consultation

(8) Report to CongressThe Director shall brief Congress after the second year of the pilot program and each year following that includes the following:

(A) An assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot program for improving the participation of United States small businesses, United States institutions of higher education, or other nonprofit research institutions in international standards organizations, including—

(i) the type of activities supported, including leadership roles;

(ii) the international standards organizations participated in; and

(iii) the technical areas covered by the activities.

(B) If determined effective, a plan for permanent implementation of the pilot program.

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title II, § 10245, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1488.)