15 U.S.C. § 5521 — National Science Foundation activities

Page 2205 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 5521 service is extended by the President. The President shall designate two co-chairs from among the members of the Committee. A co-chair may serve for a term of 2 years or until the end of his or her service as a mem- ber of the Committee, whichever is the shorter period. SEC. 2. Functions. (a) The Committee shall provide the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), through the Director of the Office of Science and Tech- nology Policy (‘‘Director’’), with advice and informa- tion on high-performance computing and communica- tions, information technology, and the Next Genera- tion Internet. The Committee shall provide an inde- pendent assessment of: (1) progress made in implementing the High-Perform- ance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program; (2) progress in designing and implementing the Next Generation Internet initiative; (3) the need to revise the HPCC Program; (4) balance among components of the HPCC Program; (5) whether the research and development undertaken pursuant to the HPCC Program is helping to maintain United States leadership in advanced computing and communications technologies and their applications; and (6) other issues as specified by the Director. (b) The Committee shall carry out its responsibilities under the Research Act in the manner described in the Research Act. SEC. 3. Administration. To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Department of Defense shall provide the financial and administrative support for the Committee. Further, the Director of the National Coordination Office for Com- puting Information, and Communications (‘‘Director of the NCO’’) shall provide such coordination and tech- nical assistance to the Committee as the co-chairs of the Committee may request. (a) The heads of executive agencies shall, to the ex- tent permitted by law, provide to the Committee such information as it may require for the purpose of car- rying out its functions. (b) The co-chairs may, from time to time, invite ex- perts to submit information to the Committee and may form subcommittees or working groups within the Committee to review specific issues. (c) Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed travel expenses, in- cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Gov- ernment service (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707). SEC. 4. General. (a) Notwithstanding any other Execu- tive order, the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.], except that of reporting to the Con- gress, that are applicable to the Committee shall be performed by the Director of the NCO in accordance with guidelines that have been issued by the Adminis- trator of General Services. (b) The Committee shall terminate June 1, 2005, un- less extended by the President prior to such date. § 5512. Grand Challenges in areas of national im- portance (a) In general The Program shall encourage the partici- pating agencies to support foundational, large- scale, long-term, interdisciplinary, and inter- agency information technology research and de- velopment activities in networking and informa- tion technology directed toward agency mission areas that have the potential for significant contributions to national economic competitive- ness and for other significant societal benefits. Such activities, ranging from basic research to the demonstration of technical solutions, shall be designed to advance the development of fun- damental discoveries. The advisory committee established under section 5511(b) of this title shall make recommendations to the Program for candidate research and development areas for support under this section. (b) Characteristics (1) In general Research and development activities under this section shall— (A) include projects selected on the basis of applications for support through a com- petitive, merit-based process; (B) to the extent practicable, involve col- laborations among researchers in institu- tions of higher education and industry, and may involve nonprofit research institutions and Federal laboratories, as appropriate; (C) to the extent practicable, leverage Fed- eral investments through collaboration with related State and private sector initiatives; and (D) include a plan for fostering the trans- fer of research discoveries and the results of technology demonstration activities, includ- ing from institutions of higher education and Federal laboratories, to industry for commercial development. (2) Cost-sharing In selecting applications for support, the agencies may give special consideration to projects that include cost sharing from non- Federal sources. (Pub. L. 102–194, title I, § 102, as added Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 105(i), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2982.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 5512, Pub. L. 102–194, title I, § 102, Dec. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 1598, related to the National Research and Education Network, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 105(g), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2982. § 5513. Repealed. Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 105(h), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2982 Section, Pub. L. 102–194, title I, § 103, as added Pub. L. 105–305, § 5, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2921; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1067(20), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 775, related to the Next Generation Internet program. SUBCHAPTER II—AGENCY ACTIVITIES § 5521. National Science Foundation activities As part of the Program described in sub- chapter I— (1) the National Science Foundation shall provide high-end computing and networking infrastructure support for all science and engi- neering disciplines, and support basic research and human resource development in all as- pects of networking and information tech- nology; and (2) the National Science Foundation shall use its existing programs, in collaboration with other agencies, as appropriate, to im- prove the teaching and learning of networking and information technology at all levels of education and to increase participation in net- working and information technology fields, in- Page 2206 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 5522 cluding by individuals identified in sections 1885a and 1885b of title 42. (Pub. L. 102–194, title II, § 201, Dec. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 1599; Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 105(j), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2983.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2017—Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(j)(1)(A), (2), struck out sub- sec. (a) designation and heading ‘‘General responsibil- ities’’ and struck out subsec. (b) which authorized ap- propriations for fiscal years 1992 to 1996. Par. (1). Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(j)(1)(B), inserted ‘‘high- end’’ after ‘‘National Science Foundation shall pro- vide’’ and substituted ‘‘networking and information technology; and’’ for ‘‘high-performance computing and advanced high-speed computer networking;’’. Par. (2). Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(j)(1)(C), (D), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: ‘‘to the extent that colleges, universities, and libraries cannot connect to the Network with the assistance of the private sector, the National Science Foundation shall have primary responsibility for assisting colleges, universities, and libraries to connect to the Network;’’. Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(j)(1)(C), struck out pars. (3) and (4) which read as follows: ‘‘(3) the National Science Foundation shall serve as the primary source of information on access to and use of the Network; and ‘‘(4) the National Science Foundation shall upgrade the National Science Foundation funded network, as- sist regional networks to upgrade their capabilities, and provide other Federal departments and agencies the opportunity to connect to the National Science Foundation funded network.’’ § 5522. National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- tration activities As part of the Program described in sub- chapter I, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall conduct basic and applied research in networking and information tech- nology, particularly in the field of computa- tional science, with emphasis on aerospace sciences, earth and space sciences, and remote exploration and experimentation. (Pub. L. 102–194, title II, § 202, Dec. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 1600; Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 105(k), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2983.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2017—Pub. L. 114–329 struck out subsec. (a) designa- tion and heading ‘‘General responsibilities’’, sub- stituted ‘‘networking and information technology’’ for ‘‘high-performance computing’’, and struck out subsec. (b) which authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1992 to 1996. § 5523. Department of Energy activities As part of the Program described in sub- chapter I, the Secretary of Energy shall— (1) conduct and support basic and applied re- search in networking and information tech- nology to support fundamental research in science and engineering disciplines related to energy applications; and (2) provide computing and networking infra- structure support, including— (A) the provision of high-end computing systems that are among the most advanced in the world in terms of performance in solv- ing scientific and engineering problems; and (B) support for advanced software and ap- plications development for science and engi- neering disciplines related to energy applica- tions. (Pub. L. 102–194, title II, § 203, Dec. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 1600; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1052(j), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 976(b), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 105(l), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2984.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2017—Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(l)(1), (4), struck out subsec. (a) designation and heading ‘‘General responsibilities’’ and struck out subsec. (b) which authorized to be ap- propriated to the Secretary of Energy such sums as necessary to carry out this section. Par. (1). Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(l)(2), substituted ‘‘net- working and information technology’’ for ‘‘high-per- formance computing and networking’’. Par. (2)(A). Pub. L. 114–329, § 105(l)(3), substituted ‘‘high-end’’ for ‘‘high-performance’’. 2005—Pub. L. 109–58 reenacted section catchline with- out change and amended text generally, substituting provisions relating to general responsibilities and au- thorization of appropriations for provisions relating to general responsibilities, establishment of High-Per- formance Computing Research and Development Col- laborative Consortia, transfer of technology to private sector and others, reports on activities, and authoriza- tion of appropriations. 1995—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–66 amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘Within one year after December 9, 1991, and every year thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to the Congress a report on activities taken to carry out this chapter.’’ § 5524. Department of Commerce activities (a) General responsibilities As part of the Program described in sub- chapter I— (1) the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall— (A) conduct basic and applied measure- ment research needed to support various networking and information technology sys- tems and capabilities; (B) develop and propose standards and guidelines, and develop measurement tech- niques and test methods, for the interoper- ability and usability of networking and in- formation technology systems; and (C) be responsible for developing bench- mark tests and standards for networking and information technology systems and software; and (2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall conduct basic and ap- plied research in weather prediction and ocean sciences, particularly in development of new forecast models, in computational fluid dy- namics, and in the incorporation of evolving computer architectures and networks into the systems that carry out agency missions. (b) Networking and information technology secu- rity The National Institute of Standards and Tech- nology shall be responsible for developing and