95-2046. Metric Policy Interagency Council and Commerce Department; Metric Town Meeting

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5370-5371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2046]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Technology Administration


Metric Policy Interagency Council and Commerce Department; Metric 
Town Meeting

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce and the Interagency Council on 
Metric Policy will hold a Metric Town Meeting to listen to the concerns 
and ideas of the private sector for accelerating the transition to the 
metric system including actions that the Government can take to make it 
easier for industry to convert to metric use. Written submissions of 
views are welcome. All, however, are encouraged to participate in 
person at the Metric Town Meeting to benefit from sharing of views. 
Those wishing to speck should briefly describe their topic(s) and 
summarize their [[Page 5371]] remarks in writing. All written 
submissions and summaries should be received in the Metric Program 
Office by February 27, 1995.

DATES: The Metric Town Meeting will be held on Monday, March 27, 1995, 
and may extend into Tuesday, March 28, to accommodate additional 
responses and speakers.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Organizations and individuals interested in participating should 
contract the Director, Metric Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 
as early as possible but before February 27, 1995. Phone [phone]) 
and FAX [phone]) messages are welcomed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: World trade is geared toward to metric 
system of measurement. Industry in the united States is often at a 
competitive disadvantage when dealing in international markets if its 
designs or production measurement units differ from those used by the 
rest of the work. U.S. companies can be excluded from international 
markets when unable to deliver goods which are built to metric 
specifications. The Nation can not ignore these globalization 
pressures.
    The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the newly 
ratified General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) have expanded 
the opportunities for international trade and commerce. To take 
advantage of those opportunities and to enhance the acceptability of 
U.S. products, U.S. business must expedite the adoption of the metric 
system
    Under the provisions of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act 
of 1988, which establishes the metric system as the preferred system of 
measurement for trade and commerce, the Federal government is required 
to assist industry, especially small business, in converting to the 
metric system. Pursuant to Executive Order 12770, the U.S. Department 
of Commerce and the Interagency Council on Metric Policy have been 
charged to explore ways to bring together the government, the private 
sector and the public to discuss the nest steps in decision-making 
about metric conversion.
    The Department of Commerce and the Interagency Council on Metric 
Policy will hold a Metric Town Meeting to listen to the concerns and 
ideas of the private sector for accelerating the transition to the 
metric system including actions that the Government can take to make it 
easier for industry to convert to metric system use. Accordingly, the 
Town Meeting will seek views from businesses, trade and professional 
groups, educators, and state and local government entities on topics 
such as:
     How using the metric system contributes to key national 
goals such as U.S. global competitiveness, technology development and 
commercialization, enhanced labor skills, and U.S. education reform;
     How the effective implementation of trade agreements 
(e.g., NAFTA and GATT) will be influenced by industry's use or non-use 
of metric measures;
     What plans the Federal government and individual agencies 
should undertake to complete a smooth conversion to the metric system 
in U.S. trade and commerce;
     How industry and Federal, state, and local governments 
should inform small and midsized companies and their workers about how 
their economic prosperity may be tied, even if indirectly, to global 
markets, and involve them in more positive discussions on metrication;
     Identifying or eliminating Federal regulatory barriers to 
metrication;
     Identifying outdated Federal standards that may contribute 
to continued use of non-metric measures;
     How Federal procurement practices should support 
metrication efforts;
     What public education or awareness strategies government 
or industry should initiate to accelerate public understanding and 
acceptance of the transition to the metric system.


(15 U.S.C. 205(b) and (c))
    Dated: January 23, 1995
Mary L. Good,
Under Secretary for Technology.
[FR Doc. 95-2046 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510--18-M-M