r/title-15-COMMERCE-AND-TRADE wiki — defined terms
The statute’s own glossary: every term Title 15 defines, in section order.
“artificial intelligence” applies throughout its chapter
The term “artificial intelligence” means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. Artificial intelligence systems use machine and human-based inputs to— (A) perceive real and virtual environments; (B) abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and (C) use model inference to formulate options for information or action. (4) Community college
“community college” applies throughout its chapter
The term “community college” means a public institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate’s degree, including 2-year Tribal Colleges or Universities under section 1059c of title 20 and public 2-year State institutions of higher education. (5) Initiative
“Initiative” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Initiative” means the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative established under section 9411(a) of this title . (6) Initiative Office
“Initiative Office” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Initiative Office” means the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office established under section 9412(a) of this title . (7) Institute
“Institute” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Institute” means an Artificial Intelligence Research Institute described in section 9431(b)(2) of this title . (8) Institution of higher education
“institution of higher education” applies throughout its chapter
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 1001 and section 1002(c) of title 20 . (9) Interagency Committee
“Interagency Committee” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Interagency Committee” means the interagency committee established under section 9413(a) of this title . (10) K-12 education
“K-12 education” applies throughout its chapter
The term “K-12 education” means elementary school and secondary school education provided by local educational agencies, as such agencies are defined in section 7801 of title 20 . (11) Machine learning
“machine learning” applies throughout its chapter
The term “machine learning” means an application of artificial intelligence that is characterized by providing systems the ability to automatically learn and improve on the basis of data or experience, without being explicitly programmed.
“National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource” applies in that section
The terms “National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource” and “Resource” mean a system that provides researchers and students across scientific fields and disciplines with access to compute resources, co-located with publicly-available, artificial intelligence-ready government and non-government data sets and a research environment with appropriate educational tools and user support. (2) Ownership
“ownership” applies in that section
The term “ownership” means responsibility and accountability for the implementation, deployment, and ongoing development of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, and for providing staff support to that effort.
“Resource” applies in that section
The terms “National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource” and “Resource” mean a system that provides researchers and students across scientific fields and disciplines with access to compute resources, co-located with publicly-available, artificial intelligence-ready government and non-government data sets and a research environment with appropriate educational tools and user support. (2) Ownership
“Department” applies in that section
The term “Department” means the Department of Energy. (3) National laboratory
“eligible entities” applies in that section
The term “eligible entities” means— (A) an institution of higher education; (B) a National Laboratory; (C) a Federal research agency; (D) a State research agency; (E) a nonprofit research organization; (F) a private sector entity; or (G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F). (k) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department to carry out this section— (1) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (2) $214,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; (3) $228,980,000 for fiscal year 2023; (4) $245,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and (5) $262,160,000 for fiscal year 2025.
“national laboratory” applies in that section
The term “national laboratory” has the meaning given such term in section 15801 of title 42 . (4) Eligible entities
“Secretary” applies in that section
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy. (2) Department
“National Laboratory” applies in that section
the term “National Laboratory” has the meaning given such term in section 15801(3) of title 42 .
“Agency” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Agency” means the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce. (2) Community-based organization
“community-based organization” applies throughout its chapter
The term “community-based organization” has the meaning given the term in section 7801 of title 20 . (3) Eligible entity Except as otherwise expressly provided,
“eligible entity” applies throughout its chapter
the term “eligible entity”— (A) means— (i) a private sector entity; (ii) a public sector entity; or (iii) a Native entity; and (B) includes an institution of higher education. (4) Federal agency
“Federal agency” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Federal agency” has the meaning given the term “agency” in section 551 of title 5 . (5) Federally recognized area of economic distress
“federally recognized area of economic distress” applies throughout its chapter
The term “federally recognized area of economic distress” means— (A) a HUBZone, as that term is defined in section 657a(b) of this title ; (B) an area that— (i) has been designated as— (I) an empowerment zone under section 1391 of title 26 ; or (II) a Promise Zone by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; or (ii) is a low or moderate income area, as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (C) a qualified opportunity zone, as that term is defined in section 1400Z–1 of title 26 ; or (D) any other political subdivision or unincorporated area of a State determined by the Under Secretary to be an area of economic distress. (6) Institution of higher education
“institution of higher education” applies throughout its chapter
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 1001 of title 20 . (7) MBDA Business Center
“MBDA Business Center” applies throughout its chapter
The term “MBDA Business Center” means a business center that— (A) is established by the Agency; and (B) provides technical business assistance to minority business enterprises consistent with the requirements of this chapter. (8) MBDA Business Center agreement
“MBDA Business Center agreement” applies throughout its chapter
The term “MBDA Business Center agreement” means a legal instrument— (A) reflecting a relationship between the Agency and the recipient of a Federal assistance award that is the subject of the instrument; and (B) that establishes the terms by which the recipient described in subparagraph (A) shall operate an MBDA Business Center. (9) Minority business enterprise (A) In general
“minority business enterprise” applies throughout its chapter
The term “minority business enterprise” means a business enterprise— (i) that is not less than 51 percent-owned by 1 or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals; and (ii) the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by 1 or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. (B) Rule of construction Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to exclude a business enterprise from qualifying as a “minority business enterprise” under that subparagraph because of— (i) the status of the business enterprise as a for-profit or not-for-profit enterprise; or (ii) the annual revenue of the business enterprise. (10) Native entity
“Native entity” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Native entity” means— (A) a Tribal Government; (B) an Alaska Native village or Regional or Village Corporation, as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); (C) a Native Hawaiian organization, as that term is defined in section 7517 of title 20 ; (D) the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; and (E) the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (11) Private sector entity
“private sector entity” applies throughout its chapter
The term “private sector entity”— (A) means an entity that is not a public sector entity; and (B) does not include— (i) the Federal Government; (ii) any Federal agency; or (iii) any instrumentality of the Federal Government. (12) Public sector entity
“public sector entity” applies throughout its chapter
The term “public sector entity” means— (A) a State; (B) an agency of a State; (C) a political subdivision of a State; (D) an agency of a political subdivision of a State; or (E) a Native entity. (13) Secretary
“Secretary” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce. (14) Socially or economically disadvantaged business concern
“socially or economically disadvantaged business concern” applies throughout its chapter
The term “socially or economically disadvantaged business concern” means a for-profit business enterprise— (A) (i) that is not less than 51 percent owned by 1 or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals; or (ii) that is socially or economically disadvantaged; or (B) the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by 1 or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. (15) Socially or economically disadvantaged individual (A) In general
“socially or economically disadvantaged individual” applies throughout its chapter
The term “socially or economically disadvantaged individual” means an individual who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias (or the ability of whom to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities, as compared to others in the same line of business and competitive market area) because of the identity of the individual as a member of a group, without regard to any individual quality of the individual that is unrelated to that identity. (B) Presumption In carrying out this chapter, the Under Secretary shall presume that
“specialty center” applies throughout its chapter
The term “specialty center” means an MBDA Business Center that provides specialty services focusing on specific business needs, including assistance relating to— (A) capital access; (B) Federal procurement; (C) entrepreneurship; (D) technology transfer; or (E) any other area determined necessary or appropriate based on the priorities of the Agency. (17) State
“State” applies throughout its chapter
The term “State” means— (A) each of the States of the United States; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (D) the United States Virgin Islands; (E) Guam; (F) American Samoa; (G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and (H) each Tribal Government. (18) Tribal Government
“Tribal Government” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Tribal Government” means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of November 15, 2021 , pursuant to section 5131 of title 25 . (19) Under Secretary
“Under Secretary” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, who is appointed as described in section ___3(b) 1 to administer this chapter.
“MBDA Business Center Program” applies throughout its part
the term “MBDA Business Center Program” means the program established under section ___113. 1
“eligible institution” applies in that section
the term “eligible institution” means an institution of higher education described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 1067q(a) of title 20 . (2) Grants The Under Secretary shall award grants to eligible institutions to develop and implement entrepreneurship curricula.
“appropriate congressional committees” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “appropriate congressional committees” means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives. (2) Eligible entity
“eligible entity” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “eligible entity” means— (A) a minority-serving institution; or (B) a consortium of institutions of higher education that is led by a minority-serving institution. (3) MBDA Rural Business Center
“MBDA Rural Business Center” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “MBDA Rural Business Center” means an MBDA Business Center that provides technical business assistance to minority business enterprises located in rural areas. (4) MBDA Rural Business Center agreement
“MBDA Rural Business Center agreement” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “MBDA Rural Business Center agreement” means an MBDA Business Center agreement that establishes the terms by which the recipient of the Federal assistance award that is the subject of the agreement shall operate an MBDA Rural Business Center. (5) Minority-serving institution
“minority-serving institution” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “minority-serving institution” means an institution described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 1067q(a) of title 20 . (6) Rural area
“rural area” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “rural area” has the meaning given the term in section 1991(a) of title 7 . (7) Rural minority business enterprise
“rural minority business enterprise” applies throughout its subchapter
The term “rural minority business enterprise” means a minority business enterprise located in a rural area.
“covered entity” applies in that section
the term “covered entity” means a private nonprofit organization that— (1) is described in paragraph (3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 501(c) of title 26 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such title; and (2) can demonstrate that a primary activity of the organization is to provide services to minority business enterprises, whether through education, making grants or loans, or other similar activities. (b) Purpose The purpose of this section is to make grants to covered entities to help those covered entities continue the necessary work of supporting minority business enterprises.
“Administrator” applies throughout its chapter
The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) State
“State” applies throughout its chapter
The term “State” means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
“weather enterprise” applies in that section
The term “weather enterprise” has the meaning given that term in section 8501 of this title .
“Freely Associated States” applies in that section
The term “Freely Associated States” means the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, which have each entered into a Compact of Free Association with the United States. (2) United States
“United States” applies in that section
The term “United States” means the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States. (b) In general The Administrator shall establish a program, to be known as the “NOAA Precipitation Frequency Atlas of the United States”, to compile, estimate, analyze, and communicate the frequency of precipitation in the United States.
“Assistant Administrator” applies in that section
The term “Assistant Administrator” means the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Decision support services
“decision support services” applies in that section
The term “decision support services” means information, including data and refined products, that supports water resources-related decision-making processes. (3) Institution of higher education
“institution of higher education” applies in that section
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 1001 of title 20 . (4) NOAA line offices
“NOAA line offices” applies in that section
The term “NOAA line offices” means the following offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: (A) The National Ocean Service. (B) The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. (C) The National Marine Fisheries Service. (D) The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. (E) The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. (b) Hydrologic research fellowship program (1) Establishment The Administrator shall establish a hydrologic research fellowship program (in this section referred to as the “program”) for qualified individuals.
“extreme weather” applies in that section
The term “extreme weather” includes observed or anticipated severe and unseasonable atmospheric conditions, including drought, heavy precipitation, hurricanes, tornadoes and other windstorms (including derechos), large hail, extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding, sustained temperatures or precipitation that deviate substantially from historical averages, and any other weather event that the Administrator determines qualifies as extreme weather. (2) Long-term The term “long-term” shall have such meaning as the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Administrator, considers appropriate for purposes of this section. (3) Other environmental trends
“other environmental trends” applies in that section
The term “other environmental trends” means wildfires, coastal flooding, inland flooding, land subsidence, rising sea levels, and any other challenges relating to changes in environmental systems over time that the Administrator determines qualify as environmental challenges other than extreme weather.
“COVID–19 public health emergency” applies throughout this title
the term “COVID–19 public health emergency”— (1) means the public health emergency first declared on January 31, 2020 , by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 247d of title 42 with respect to COVID–19; and (2) includes any renewal of such declaration pursuant to such section 247d of title 42 .
“Commission” applies in that section
The term “Commission” means the Federal Trade Commission. (2) Controlled by a foreign adversary
“controlled by a foreign adversary” applies in that section
The term “controlled by a foreign adversary” means, with respect to an individual or entity, that such individual or entity is— (A) a foreign person that is domiciled in, is headquartered in, has its principal place of business in, or is organized under the laws of a foreign adversary country; (B) an entity with respect to which a foreign person or combination of foreign persons described in subparagraph (A) directly or indirectly own at least a 20 percent stake; or (C) a person subject to the direction or control of a foreign person or entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B). (3) Data broker (A) In general
“data broker” applies in that section
The term “data broker” means an entity that, for valuable consideration, sells, licenses, rents, trades, transfers, releases, discloses, provides access to, or otherwise makes available data of United States individuals that the entity did not collect directly from such individuals to another entity that is not acting as a service provider.
“foreign adversary country” applies in that section
The term “foreign adversary country” means a country specified in section 4872(d)(2) of title 10 . (5) Personally identifiable sensitive data
“personally identifiable sensitive data” applies in that section
The term “personally identifiable sensitive data” means any sensitive data that identifies or is linked or reasonably linkable, alone or in combination with other data, to an individual or a device that identifies or is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual. (6) Precise geolocation information
“precise geolocation information” applies in that section
The term “precise geolocation information” means information that— (A) is derived from a device or technology of an individual; and (B) reveals the past or present physical location of an individual or device that identifies or is linked or reasonably linkable to 1 or more individuals, with sufficient precision to identify street level location information of an individual or device or the location of an individual or device within a range of 1,850 feet or less. (7) Sensitive data
“sensitive data” applies in that section
The term “sensitive data” includes the following: (A) A government-issued identifier, such as a Social Security number, passport number, or driver’s license number. (B) Any information that describes or reveals the past, present, or future physical health, mental health, disability, diagnosis, or healthcare condition or treatment of an individual. (C) A financial account number, debit card number, credit card number, or information that describes or reveals the income level or bank account balances of an individual. (D) Biometric information. (E) Genetic information. (F) Precise geolocation information.
“service provider” applies in that section
The term “service provider” means an entity that— (A) collects, processes, or transfers data on behalf of, and at the direction of— (i) an individual or entity that is not a foreign adversary country or controlled by a foreign adversary; or (ii) a Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, or local government entity; and (B) receives data from or on behalf of an individual or entity described in subparagraph (A)(i) or a Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, or local government entity. (9) United States individual
“United States individual” applies in that section
The term “United States individual” means a natural person residing in the United States. (d) Effective date This section shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after April 24, 2024 .