### 72065 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2013 / Notices

information currently collected by the USPTO about inventors (i.e., name, town, state) is not sufficient to allow Census to meaningfully describe the cumulative diversity characteristics of inventors as a group within the meaning of AIA Section 29.

In sum, the first step of USPTO’s methodology under AIA Section 29 was to cooperate with Census to analyze currently available data. The aim was to identify demographic information about inventors of patents granted in 2005– 2006, as a collective group. Since step one was only partially successful, the Agency now proceeds to step two, which is to seek public comments on whether or how to collect further information for completing the diversity study under AIA Section 29.

Issues For Comment: The USPTO seeks comments on how to study the diversity of patent applicants before the USPTO pursuant to AIA Section 29. The questions below are intended to aid the USPTO in assessing whether and how to collect further information and in considering potential next steps for a diversity study. The questions should not be taken as an indication that the USPTO has taken a position or is predisposed to any particular view. The public is invited to answer any or all of these questions. The public is also invited to submit comments on any related issues that they believe are relevant.

(1) How and by which methods should the USPTO effectively study patent applicant diversity in accordance with the expressed intent of Congress in Section 29 of the AIA?

(2) Should the USPTO conduct surveys of patent applicants to obtain demographic data such as race, gender, age, and geography, of inventors as a group?

(3) Aside from surveys, how can the USPTO effectively collect personal identifying information about U.S. and non-U.S. patent applicants in order to study applicant diversity through improved data matching, analytics, and studies?

(a) Should the USPTO collect certain personal identifying information about U.S. and non-U.S. patent applicants on a mandatory basis or on a voluntary basis? How would each of these approaches affect the accuracy of the information being provided?

(b) Can USPTO effectively collect personal identifying information from other institutions or organizations about U.S. and non-U.S. patent applicants?

(4) What particular personal identifying information should the USPTO seek (or not seek) in order to more effectively study applicant diversity? Why?

Dated: November 25, 2013. Margaret A. Focarino, Commissioner for Patents.

[FR Doc. 2013–28742 Filed 11–29–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3510–16–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**[Docket ID: DoD–2013–OS–0222]**

**Proposed Collection; Comment Request** 

**AGENCY :**  Department of Defense Education Activity, DoD.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Defense Education Activity announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

**DATES :**  Consideration will be given to all comments received by January 31, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. Any associated form(s) for this collection may be located within this same electronic docket and downloaded for review/testing. Follow the instructions at http:// www.regulations.gov for submitting comments. Please submit comments on any given form identified by docket number, form number, and title.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Department of Defense Education Activity, ATTN: Ms. Kathy Facon, 4800 Mark Center Dr., Alexandria, VA 22350–1400 or call (571) 372–5834.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Application for DoD Impact Aid for Children with Severe Disabilities; SD Form 816 and SD Form 816c; OMB Number 0704–0425.

Needs and Uses: DoD funds are authorized for local educational agencies (LEAs) that educate military dependent students with severe disabilities and meet certain criteria. This application will be requested of military-impacted LEAs to determine if they meet the DoD criteria to receive compensation for the cost of educating military dependents with severe disabilities.

Affected Public: Local Education Agencies (LEAs).

Annual Burden Hours: 400. Number of Respondents: 50. Responses per Respondent: 1. Average Burden per Response: 8 hours.

Frequency: Annually. The data collection consists of an application and signature sheet that must be submitted by fax with the original signature clearly visible on the document. The application is identified as Secretary of Defense Form 816 (SD 816), with SD Form 816C to be used as a continuation page if necessary. In order for DoD to compute the maximum payment amount, the LEA will need to determine and provide the following information in its application. First, the LEA must provide the special education costs of individual military dependent children who have severe disabilities and meet the threshold for payments (at least two military dependents with severe disabilities and the cost per student must be at least five times the national average or three times the state average for students with disabilities, whichever is lower). These averages are provided to the LEAs by DoD in the application guidelines and


### 72066 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2013 / Notices

acknowledged by the LEA in the application. Second, LEAs are required to identify the number of eligible children who were residing on-base or off-base during the previous school year. If any of the eligible children were residing in base housing or in military housing undergoing renovation or rebuilding and deemed as eligible for on-base housing, LEAs will need to identify this number on the front page of the application. Third, the LEA must provide its banking information to receive payment. A sample ‘‘Section II— Payment Determination’’ is included as part of the form to provide an example for LEAs.

Dated: November 26, 2013. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2013–28780 Filed 11–29–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 5001–06–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**[Docket ID: DoD–2013–OS–0223]**

**Proposed Collection; Comment Request** 

**AGENCY :**  Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), DoD.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

**DATES :**  Consideration will be given to all comments received by January 31, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Mail: Federal Docket Management Systems Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Office of the Director, ATTN: Martha Brown, Alexandria, VA 22350, or call DoDEA, Office of the Director, at 571–

432–9069.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Control Number: Assessing Options for CONUS Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS); OMB Control Number 0704– TBD.

Needs and Uses: The objective of this project is to recommend options that most effectively balance cost and quality considerations for primary and secondary schooling of military dependents on each of the 15 continental United States (CONUS) installations where the Department of Defense currently operates Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) or contracts with local educational agencies (LEAs) to operate schools on the installation. As part of the study, we will interview superintendents of LEAs that are in close proximity to installations that have DDESS schools (excluding those installations that only have special arrangement schools). The interviews will capture information on the approach the LEAs will adopt if they were given the responsibility to educate DDESS students, as well as identify factors that might facilitate or hinder LEAs taking the responsibility of educating DDESS students. This information is critical as it will identify whether transferring DDESS schools to LEAs is even a feasible option that could be plausibly considered for the governance of the current CONUS DDESS schools.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Annual Burden Hours: 56. Number of Respondents: 28. Responses per Respondent: 1. Average Burden per Response: 120 minutes.

Frequency: Once. Superintendents of local education agencies (LEAs) that are in the vicinity of the installations where the Department of Defense (DoD) currently operates Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS), as well as superintendents of LEAs that have contracts with DoD to operate schools at the installations will be interviewed. The interviews will address the type and quality of programs and services they provide to their students, their capacity to expand their student enrollment to include DDESS students, challenges they would face, and considerations they need to take into account. Participation in these interviews is completely voluntary. Information from the interviews will be used by policymakers at the Department of Defense to determine ways to best operate DDESS and contracted schools.

Dated: November 26, 2013. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2013–28787 Filed 11–29–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 5001–06–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**[Transmittal Nos. 13–44]**

**36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification**

**AGENCY :**  Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104–164 dated July 21, 1996.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Ms. B. English, DSCA/DBO/CFM, (703) 601–

3740.

The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Transmittals 13–44 with attached transmittal, policy justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.