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BIS Technical Advisory Committees

What Are Technical Advisory Committees?

Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) advise the Department of Commerce on the technical parameters for export controls applicable to dual-use commodities and technology and on the administration of those controls. The TACs are composed of representatives from industry and Government representing diverse points of view on the concerns of the exporting community. Industry representatives are selected from firms producing a broad range of goods, technologies, and software presently controlled for national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation, and short supply reasons or that are proposed for such controls, balanced to the extent possible among large and small firms.

TAC members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and serve terms of not more than four consecutive years. The membership reflects the Department's commitment to attaining balance and diversity. TAC members must obtain secret-level clearances prior to appointment. These clearances are necessary so that members can be permitted access to relevant classified information needed in formulating recommendations to the Department of Commerce. Each TAC meets approximately four times per year. Members of the TACs are not compensated for their services.

How Many TACs Are There and What Do They Do?

The following is a list of TACs that currently advise BIS, along with a short summary of each TAC's issue areas. You can access the committee's charter by clicking on its name.

Information Systems- Articles, materials and supplies of computers, electronics, and telecommunications equipment.
Materials - Articles, materials, and supplies for radar absorption, jet engine turbines blades, super-conductivity, fluids, lubricants, composites, and for nuclear, missile, chemical, and biological weapons, including technical data and other information.
Materials Processing Equipment- Articles, materials and supplies of metal-working equipment, numerically controlled machine tools and robots, including technical data on the integration of numerically controlled machine tools and robotics equipment to form manufacturing cells and flexible manufacturing systems and enterprise automation technologies, as well as other information.
Regulations and Procedures- The Export Administration Regulations (EARs) and procedures implementing these regulations.
Sensors and Instrumentation- Articles, materials and supplies of sensors and instrumentation, including technical data and other information.
Transportation and Related Equipment- Articles, materials and supplies of transportation and related equipment, including technical data and other information.

MEETING SCHEDULE
November	17-18 Information Systems (Partially Closed Meeting) - 9:00 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice
October	26 Sensors and Instrumentation (Partially Closed Meeting) - 9:30 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice \| Minutes 14 Materials (Closed Meeting) - 10:30 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice
September	21 Transportation and Related Equipment (Open Meeting) - 9:30 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice 14 Regulations and Procedures (Partially Closed Meeting) - 9:00 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice
July	27 Sensors and Instrumentation (Partially Closed Meeting) - 9:30 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice 21-22 Information Systems (Partially Closed Meeting) - 9:00 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice \| Minutes 15 Materials (Partially Closed Meeting) - 10:30 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice
June	8 Regulations and Procedures (Partially Closed Meeting) - 9:00 a.m., HCHB 3884 Meeting Notice
May	18 Transportation and Related Equipment (Open Meeting) - 9:30 a.m., HCHB 3407 Meeting Notice \| Minutes 13 Materials Processing Equipment (Open Meeting) - 9:00 a.m., HCHB 6087B Meeting Notice \| Minutes
Meeting Notice and Minutes Archive

Join a TAC!

The TACs seek new members on an ongoing basis. The current Notice of Recruitment, which was published in the Federal Register on July 23, 2004, explains how to apply.

For more information, send an e-mail to: Committee Liaison Officer