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CHARTER

of the

SUBCOMMITTEE ON STANDARDS

COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY

NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

A. Official Designation

The Subcommittee on Standards (SoS) is hereby re-established by action of the National Science 

and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on Technology (CoT).1

B. Purpose and Scope

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA)2 as amended by 

Sec. 1115 of P. L. 107-107,[i] and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-1193 set

forth official Administration policy on the Federal Government’s approach to engagement in 

standards development and use of standards. Additional guidance to executive agencies and 

departments is provided in the White House Memorandum M-12-08 on “Principles for Federal 

Engagement in Standards Activities to Address National Priorities.”4 The policy framework and 

guidance emphasize that the Federal Government’s commitment to rely on private-sector 

leadership, supplemented by Federal Government contributions to discrete standardization 

processes, remains the primary strategy for government engagement in standards development. 

The SoS, operating under the oversight of the CoT, will address how Federal agencies can more 

effectively use standards and standards-related solutions to strengthen U.S. innovation and 

competitiveness.

C. Functions

1. Recognizing the importance of standards as a policy tool that can help achieve agency 

mission objectives and address important technological issues in national priorities, the 

SoS will address how Federal agencies can more effectively engage in the development 

and use of standards, and on standards policy related matters.

2. The SoS will champion Federal Government engagement in the development and use of 

standards by furthering interagency coordination and cooperation on standards solutions 

for addressing national priorities.

 1 The NSTC/CoT/SoS was originally chartered on August 04, 2010 and it is to expire on December 31, 2012.

2 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-104publ113/pdf/PLAW-104publ113.pdf

3 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a119

4 http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2012/m-12-08.pdf
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3. Working with appropriate Federal agencies and established interagency groups, the SoS

will support U.S. standards policy, as embodied in the NTTAA and OMB-A-119, 

elaborating the benefits of this approach.

4. The SoS will elevate awareness of the importance of standards and related Federal 

policies among the leadership of Federal agencies, and will streamline information 

sharing about agency approaches and best practices on engagement in standardization 

related issues.

5. The SoS will support Federal agency adoption and use of the standards engagement 

principles described in White House Memorandum M-12-08 “Principles for Federal 

Engagement in Standards Activities to Address National Priorities.”

D. Membership

The following departments and agencies are represented on the SoS:

Department of Commerce (Chair);

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Department of Defense;

Department of Education;

Department of Energy;

Department of Health and Human Services;

Department of the Interior;

Department of Justice;

Department of Labor;

Department of State;

Department of Transportation;

Department of the Treasury;

Department of Veterans Affairs;

Consumer Product Safety Commission (ex officio);

Environmental Protection Agency;

Federal Communications Commission (ex officio);

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (ex officio);

Federal Trade Commission, international Trade Commission (ex officio);

General Services Administration;

Government Printing Office;

National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

National Science Foundation;

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (ex officio);

Small Business Administration;

United States Access Board (ex officio); and

United States Postal Service (ex officio).

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

the SoS:

National Economic Council;

National Security Staff;

 5 Specifically, but not exclusively, to include the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which shall chair 

the SoS.
Office of Management and Budget; 

Office of Science and Technology Policy; and 

United States Trade Representative. 

Cooperating departments and agencies shall include other such Executive organizations, 

departments and agencies as the Chair may, from time to time, designate. 

E. Private-Sector Interface 

The SoS may seek advice fi·ommembers of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and 

Technology to secure appropriate private-sector6 advice, and will recommend to the CoT and/or 

the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy the nature of any additional nonFederal advice needed to accomplish its mission. The SoS may also interact with and receive 

ad hoc advice fi·om various private-sector groups as consistent with the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act. 

F. Termination Date 

Unless renewed by the chair of the CoT prior to its expiration, the SoS shall terminate no later 

than December 31,2016. 

G. Determination 

I hereby determine that the function 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. 

Approved: 

Chair, Committee on Technology, and 

Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the United States for Telecommunications 

Office of Science and Technology Policy 

Date 

6 The Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., as amended, does not explicitly define "private sector," but 

the phrase is generally understood to include individuals or entities outside the Federal government such as, but 

not limited to, the following: non-Federal sources, academia, State, local or Tribal govermnents, individual 

citizens, the public, non-governmental organizations, industly associations, intemational bodies, etc. 

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 i Relevant language from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (P. L. 107–107):

SEC. 1115. PARTICIPATION OF PERSONNEL IN TECHNICAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT 

ACTIVITIES.

Subsection (d) of section 12 of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Pub. Law 

104–113; 15 U.S.C. 272 note) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph

(4):

‘‘(4) EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL.—Section 5946 of title 5, United States Code, shall 

not apply with respect to any activity of an employee of a Federal agency or department that is determined by 

the head of that agency or department as being an activity undertaken in carrying out this subsection.’’.