; and (2) requests for proposals from cities interested in participating in those programs. (e) Considerations In establishing the programs under subsections (a) through (c), the Secretary of Energy shall seek to address the needs of small- and medium-sized cities. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. III Improving performance and interoperability 301. Standards and interoperability framework (a) Participation To strengthen the public-private partnership approach to smart city-related or community-related standards development and interoperability, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall strongly encourage and support participation by Federal Government experts in private sector-led, standards-related activities that convene smart city or community stakeholders, including representatives of applicable Federal agencies. (b) Activities To promote innovation and economic competitiveness and to achieve interoperability of smart city or community devices and systems, while strengthening the United States approach to private sector-led standardization activities and the participation of Federal representatives under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with private and public sector stakeholders, shall— (1) survey and review domestic and international smart city or community performance standards, existing architectures, applications, and deployments, and interoperability standards; (2) make consensus-based recommendations— (A) to identify gaps in the smart city or community performance standards and interoperability standards under paragraph (1); (B) to harmonize existing standards and deployment efforts and enable greater interoperability across smart city or community technologies