Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 2.djvu/426

 102 STAT. 1430

15 USC 1532.

PUBLIC LAW 100-418—AUG. 23, 1988

and disseminate standard signals through broadcast and other means; "(12) develop and test standard interfaces, communication protocols, and data structures for computer and related telecommunications systems; "(13) study computer systems (as that term is defined in section 20(d) of this Act) and their use to control machinery and processes; "(14) perform research to develop standards and test methods to advance the effective use of computers and related systems and to protect the information stored, processed, and tremsmitted by such systems and to provide advice in support of policies affecting Federal computer and related telecommunications systems; "(15) determine properties of building materials and structural elements, and encourage their standardization and most effective use, including investigation of fire-resisting properties of building materials and conditions under which they may be most efficiently used, and the standardization of types of appliances for fire prevention; "(16) undertake such research in engineering, pure and applied mathematics, statistics, computer science, materials science, and the physical sciences as may be necessary to carry out and support the functions specified in this section; "(17) compile, evaluate, publish, and otherwise disseminate general, specific and technical data resulting from the performance of the functions specified in this section or from other sources when such data are important to science, engineering, or industry, or to the general public, and are not available elsewhere; "(18) collect, create, analyze, and maintain specimens of scientific value; "(19) operate national user facilities; "(20) evaluate promising inventions and other novel technical concepts submitted by inventors and small companies and work with other Federal agencies. States, and localities to provide appropriate technical assistance and support for those inventions which are found in the evaluation process to have commercial promise; "(21) demonstrate the results of the Institute's activities by exhibits or other methods of technology transfer, including the use of scientific or technical personnel of the Institute for parttime or intermittent teaching and training activities at educational institutions of higher learning as part of and incidental to their official duties; and "(22) undertake such other activities similar to those specified in this subsection as the Director determines appropriate.". (b) OTHER FUNCTIONS OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to— (1) conduct research on all of the telecommunications sciences, including wave propagation and reception, the conditions which affect electromagnetic wave propagation and reception, electromagnetic noise and interference, radio system characteristics, operating techniques affecting the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, and methods for improving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum for telecommunications purposes;

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