CHARTER
of the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON STANDARDS
COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

A. Official Designation

The Subcommittee on Standards is hereby established by action of the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on Technology (CoT).

B. Purpose and Scope

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA) and Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A- 119 sets forth the official Administration policy on the
federal government’s approach to standard setting. That framework, emphasizes the Federal
Government’s commitment to the use of voluntary, consensus-based standards developed by private
sector organizations to carry out its policy objectives. The framework does not address how to best
engage government agencies on standards policy issues, articulate the U.S. model of public-private
cooperation in standard setting to domestic and international audiences, and develop increased awareness
within the Federal government of best practice in addressing standards policy issues, This Subcommittee,
which will operate under the oversight of the NTSC’s Committee on Technology as well as OMB’s
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, will take on the responsibility of addressing these and
related questions.

Cc. Functions

¢ The Subcommittee will address the importance of standard setting and implementation in
connection to effective governance and agency operations and will empower officials
within each relevant agency to play a leadership role in identifying and enhancing the
quality and effectiveness of that agency’s standards related engagement.

© The Subcommittee will facilitate a strong, coordinated effort across Federal agencies to
clarify how standards can best be used to achieve procurement needs and regulatory policy
and guidance goals, and enable technology development and innovation.

¢ Working with appropriate Federal agencies and established interagency groups, the
Subcommittee will support U.S, standards policy, as embodied in the NTTAA and OMB A-
119, elaborating the benefits of this approach and and informing audiences, including the
international community as to how and why the U.S. approaches standard setting in a
voluntary, consensus-based manner.


¢ The Subcommittee will identify those areas where standards policy issues may arise while
addressing national priorities and determine how U.S. government leadership can elevate an
awareness of best practices in addressing such standards policy issues. In so doing,
however, it will not seek to disturb the commitment to diversity of standard setting

approaches.

D. Membership

The following Federal departments and agencies are represented on the CoT Subcommittee on

Standards:

« Department of Agriculture
« Department of Commerce

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National Telecommunications and Information Administration
International Trade Administration

Office of the Secretary

Patent and Trademark Office

National Institute of Standards and Technology (Co-Chair)

Department of Defense

Department of Education

Department of Energy

Department of the Interior

Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security

Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Justice (Co-Chair)

Department of Labor

Department of State

Department of Transportation

Department of the Treasury

Department of Veterans Affairs

Environmental Protection Agency

General Services Administration

Government Printing Office

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation

Other departments and agencies designated by the Co-chairs.

The following organizations in the Executive Office of the President shall also be represented on
the CoT Subcommittee on Standards

e National Economic Council
e National Security Council
¢ Office of Management and Budget

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Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

Office of Science and Technology Policy
United States Trade Representative


A number of independent federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Federal Communications Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Trade
Commission, International Trade Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, US Access Board, and
the US Postal Service shall be represented on the CoT Subcommittee on Standards in an advisory
capacity insofar as they are deeply engaged in standard setting activity or policy issues.

E. Private Sector Interface

The Subcommittee may interact with and receive ad hoc advice from the private sector as consistent with
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

F. Termination Date

Unless renewed by the chair of the Committee on Technology prior to its expiration, the Subcommittee on
Standards shall be subject to termination no later than December 31, 2012.

G. Determination

We hereby determine that the formation of the Subcommittee on Standards is in the public interest in
connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Executive Branch by law, and that such duties
can best be performed through the advice and counsel of such a group.

Aneesh Chopra Date
US. Chief Technology Officer and
Co-Chair of the NSTC’s Committee on Technology

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Vivek Kundra Date
Federal Chief Information Officer and Co-Chair of the
NSTC’s Committee on Technology

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Philip/J. Weiser Date
Senior Advisor to the NEC Director and
Co-Chair of the NSTC’s Committee on Technology