This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

8488 

Vol. 78, No. 25 

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Economic Research Service 

Notice of Intent To Request New 

Information Collection 

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice invites the general public and 

other public agencies to send comments 

regarding any aspect of this proposed 

information collection. This is a new 

collection for the Rural Establishment 

Innovation Survey (also known as 

National Survey of Business 

Competitiveness). 

DATES: Written comments on this notice 

must be received on or before April 8, 

2013 to be assured of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Address all comments 

concerning this notice to Tim Wojan, 

Resource and Rural Economics Division, 

Economic Research Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop 

1800, Room 6–135B, Washington, DC 

20250–0002. Comments may also be 

submitted via fax to the attention of Tim 

Wojan at 202–694–5756 or via email to 

twojan@ers.usda.gov. 

All written comments will be open for 

public inspection at the office of the 

Economic Research Service during 

regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 

p.m., Monday through Friday) at 355 E 

St. SW., Room 6–135B, Washington, DC 

20024–3221. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for Office of Management and Budget 

approval. All comments and replies will 

be a matter of public record. Comments 

are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information contact Tim Wojan 

at the mailing address in the preamble. 

Tel. 202–694–5419. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 

Rural Establishment Innovation Survey 

(aka National Survey of Business 

Competitiveness) 

OMB Number: 0536–XXXX. 

Expiration Date: Three years from the 

date of approval. 

Type of Request: New collection. 

Abstract: This survey of business 

establishments, funded through USDA’s 

Rural Development Mission Area, will 

be conducted over a 6-month period 

with up to 30,000 respondents to collect 

information on rural tradable business 

sectors such as manufacturing and 

professional services. This information 

will contribute to a better understanding 

of how rural businesses and their 

communities are dealing with the 

increasing competitive pressures and 

opportunities associated with the spread 

of new information technologies 

through our economy and the business 

and community characteristics 

associated with effective response to 

these pressures and opportunities. This 

information is critical to the Rural 

Development Mission Area’s aim of 

creating jobs, developing new markets 

and increasing competitiveness for rural 

businesses and communities. 

The information to be collected by the 

Rural Establishment Innovation Survey 

is necessary to understand: (1) The 

adoption of innovative practices and 

their contribution to firm productivity; 

(2) the availability and use of local and 

regional assets (such as workforce 

education, local financial institutions, 

strong local business and other 

economic associations, and 

transportation infrastructure) and the 

association of these assets with 

successful adjustment; and (3) the 

extent and importance of participation 

in Federal, State and local programs 

designed to promote rural business 

vitality and growth. This need is made 

more urgent by increased international 

competition in goods and some service 

markets, particularly from low labor 

cost countries. The traditional cost 

advantage of domestic rural 

establishments has been significantly 

eroded by these developments, 

requiring emphasis on new products, 

new processes, new marketing channels 

and improved customer service. A 

thorough understanding of the viability 

of the rural business sector requires 

collecting information on the capability 

for innovation. 

As the first collection of information 

devoted specifically to innovation in 

rural business establishments, the 

proposed survey will complement other 

Federal efforts in gauging innovative 

activity in the private sector. 

Information on formal research and 

development (R&D) activities is 

collected by the National Science 

Foundation using the Business R&D and 

Innovation Survey. While some of this 

formal research and development 

activity takes place in nonmetropolitan 

counties, it is anticipated that the great 

majority of rural innovation occurs less 

through the creation of new patentable 

products than through the adoption of 

new practices and niche marketing. The 

emphasis of the proposed collection 

will be on understanding the process of 

innovation in business establishments 

as opposed to measuring R&D inputs. 

Another difference between this and 

other Federal surveys on innovative 

activity will be the focus on constraints 

to innovation stemming from 

nonmetropolitan locations. Information 

on the availability of skilled workers 

and the ability to recruit managers and 

professionals will inform possible 

human capital impediments to 

innovation. Information on access to 

credit needed for business formation 

and development will allow for 

assessing financing impediments to 

innovation. Information on the 

availability of broadband Internet 

service and how this capability affects 

business strategy will allow assessing 

infrastructure impediments to 

innovation. Information on interaction 

with suppliers, customers, competitors, 

business associations and other local 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2013 / Notices 8489 

institutions providing real services to 

the establishment will inform the 

importance of regional clusters to 

innovation. 

The survey will collect data from 

about 30,000 business establishments in 

tradable sectors that will include 

mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, 

transportation and warehousing, 

information, finance and insurance, 

professional/scientific/technical 

services, arts, and management of 

businesses. Only businesses with 5 or 

more employees will be included in the 

sample. While the focus of the survey 

will be on establishments in 

nonmetropolitan counties, 

establishments from metropolitan 

counties will be sampled in adequate 

numbers to allow comparative analysis. 

Businesses will be selected at random 

from strata defined by establishment 

size categories, industry and 

metropolitan or nonmetropolitan status 

of the county. The sample will be 

selected from the business 

establishment list maintained by state 

employment security departments 

where state approval is granted, and 

from a proprietary business 

establishment list frame for those states 

where approval is not granted. The 

much more comprehensive coverage of 

new and small establishments available 

in state administrative data provides a 

compelling argument for this hybrid 

sample frame approach, as these 

establishments are critical to examining 

processes of entrepreneurship and 

innovation. 

The interview protocol will include a 

screening interview to identify the most 

knowledgeable person in the 

establishment to respond to questions 

regarding innovative activities of the 

entity. Screening greatly improves the 

quality and effectiveness of the contact 

information. The most appropriate 

phone number, email address and 

mailing address will be collected at this 

time to allow efficient distribution of a 

multi-modal survey instrument to the 

most appropriate respondent for the 

business. Respondents will have the 

flexibility to respond to a web 

questionnaire, a mail questionnaire, or a 

telephone survey based on their 

personal preference. This protocol will 

reduce respondent burden by using the 

survey mode which is most efficient for 

a given respondent. Past research has 

demonstrated that multi-modal surveys 

also increase survey response rates. A 

limited number of control surveys will 

be used to assess any mode bias. 

Social exchange theory will also be 

invoked as this is seen as integral to the 

tailored design methodology (Dillman et 

al., 2009) that will be employed in this 

study to increase response rate. In 

addition to offering mixed survey 

modes, the design will integrate 

multiple and mutually supportive ways 

to appeal to the diversity of respondents 

in this business population. The 

following are some examples of these 

design elements: 

• The survey request will be 

distinguishable from other surveys and 

will emphasize how the information 

will be used and describe the benefits 

back to the population for responding to 

the survey. 

• Survey appeals in contacts will 

show positive regard and call on the 

norms of social responsibility by asking 

for respondents’ help and advice as 

some respondents feel rewarded when 

they know they have helped others. 

• Survey contacts will be personally 

addressed, toll free numbers will be 

provided for answering questions and 

providing help. Confidentiality of 

responses will be ensured and 

respondents will know how to contact 

the surveyor if they have questions on 

security or other issues. 

• All contacts will be personalized 

and will emphasize why the study is 

important and express appreciation for 

respondents’ help. They will be 

formally thanked for promptly 

completing questionnaires. 

• Small tangible token rewards 

provided in advance and at the time of 

the survey request will be further tested 

with small businesses to encourage 

response. Previous survey research has 

shown that small cash token incentives 

provided with the survey significantly 

increase response rates and do much 

better than promised rewards or 

nonmonetary rewards. 

A key component of tailored survey 

design is considering and balancing 

how features of questions, 

questionnaires, mailings, interviewing, 

and the context of the survey will 

influence trust, cost, and rewards 

associated with the survey 

circumstances and respondents. 

All study instruments will be kept as 

simple and respondent-friendly as 

possible. Responses are voluntary and 

confidential. Responses will be used to 

produce statistics and for no other 

purpose. Data files from the survey will 

not be released to the public. 

Affected Public: Respondents include 

business establishments with at least 5 

employees in both nonmetropolitan and 

metropolitan counties. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

The survey is cross-sectional and will be 

completed at one point in time. The 

survey will have a complex mixed 

survey administration to include 

telephone screening, pre-notification 

letter with web access, multi-contact 

telephone interviewing, follow-up 

nonrespondent mail questionnaires, and 

simultaneous web questionnaires 

offered during all contacts. Completion 

time for each questionnaire, based on 

comparisons with similar mixed modes 

is estimated at 33.5 minutes per 

completion, including time for reading 

correspondence, returning an eligibility 

postcard or responding to a screening 

call, reviewing instructions, gathering 

data needed, and responding to 

questionnaire items. It is also expected 

that the burden for attempted interviews 

or contacts with those either ineligible 

or choosing not to participate will 

average 18.7 minutes per business. 

Full Study: The initial sample size for 

the full study is 30,000 businesses. 

17,040 businesses are expected to be 

eligible for and complete the study. The 

total estimated response burden for 

them is 9,521 hours (17,040 respondents 

× 33.5 minutes) and for those either 

ineligible or non-responding business is 

4,040 hours (12,960 respondents × 18.7 

minutes). 

Pilot Study: A pilot test of the survey 

will be done in advance of the full study 

survey. The purpose of the pilot is to 

evaluate the survey protocol, and test 

instruments and questionnaires. The 

initial sample size for this phase of the 

research is 4,000 businesses. 2,272 

businesses are expected to be eligible for 

and complete the study. The total 

estimated response burden for them is 

1,269 hours (2,272 respondents × 33.5 

minutes). Non-responding or ineligible 

businesses will experience 539 hours of 

burden (1,728 respondents × 18.7 

minutes). Total respondent burden is 

estimated at 15,369 hours (see table 

below). 

Testing will be limited to a maximum 

of 9 businesses which will be consulted 

on the questionnaire and asked to 

complete the questionnaire in a 

cognitive interview test. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

8490 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2013 / Notices 

ESTIMATED RESPONDENT BURDEN FOR RURAL ESTABLISHMENT INNOVATION SURVEY

Survey Sample 

size Freq 

Responses Non-response or ineligible Total 

burden 

hours Response 

count 

Frequency 

× count 

Minute/ 

response 

Burden 

hours 

Response 

count 

Frequency 

× count 

Minute/ 

response 

Burden 

hours 

Pilot Study ............................. 4,000 1 2,272 2,272 33.5 1,269 1,728 1,728 18.7 539 1,808 

Full Study .............................. 30,000 1 17,040 17,040 33.5 9,521 12,960 12,960 18.7 4,040 13,561 

Total ............................... 34000 ............ ................ .................... ................ 13,600 ................ .................... ................ 1,700 15,369 

Dated: January 25, 2013. 

Mary Bohman, 

Administrator, Economic Research Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–02606 Filed 2–5–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–18–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Economic Research Service 

Notice of Intent To Request Revision of 

the Previously Requested 

Experimental Economic Research—A 

New Generic Clearance for Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: Economic Research Service. 

ACTION: Notice of changes and request 

for comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) implementing regulations, this 

notice announces changes that the 

Economic Research Service intends to 

make to a previously request for a new 

generic clearance vehicle for 

information collection, namely 

Experimental Economic Research. On 

December 2, 2011 and April 24, 2012, 

ERS published two Notices of 

solicitation of comments on the 

aforementioned new information 

collection in the Federal Register (76 FR 

75521–75522, December 2, 2011; 77 FR 

24455, April 24, 2012). Although ERS 

did not receive any comments from the 

general public during the respective 

commenting periods, it has, since then, 

engaged in extensive discussions with 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) regarding the nature and scope of 

the study and the appropriateness and 

practicability of the proposed protection 

for respondent information. As a result, 

ERS intends to make four changes to the 

aforementioned information collection. 

Details of the changes are discussed in 

the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 

below. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by March 8, 2013 to be assured 

consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Address all comments 

concerning this notice to Nathaniel 

Higgins, Resource and Rural Economics 

Division, Economic Research Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Mail Stop 

1800, Washington, DC 20250–1800. 

Comments may also be submitted via 

fax at 202–245–4847 or via email to 

nhiggins@ers.usda.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nathaniel Higgins, using the contact 

information listed in the ADDRESSES

section above. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 2 

December 2011 the Economic Research 

Service (ERS) published a notice and 

request for comments pursuant to its 

intent to seek Office of Management and 

Budget Approval for a new information 

collection (76 FR 75521–75522) [‘‘60- 

day notice’’]. In that notice ERS stated 

that a number of research techniques, 

including laboratory and field 

techniques, exploratory interviews, pilot 

experiments and respondent debriefing, 

would be used to collect to inform or 

evaluate policies. ERS stated that the 

number of respondents would be 1,800 

and the maximum total burden hours 

would be 2,300. Additionally, ERS 

stated that it complies with OMB 

Implementation Guidance, 

‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V 

of the E–Government Act, Confidential 

Information Protection and Statistical 

Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA)’’ (72 FR 

33362, June 15, 2007). In a subsequent 

notice announcing that the collection 

had been submitted to OMB for 

consideration (77 FR 24455–34456, 

April 24, 2012) [‘‘30-day notice’’] ERS 

stated that the number of respondents 

would be 5,400 and the total burden 

hours would be 6,900. 

The intent of this notice is to 

announce four changes to the clearance 

sought by ERS: (1) The request is being 

sought as a pilot of the concept of using 

a generic approval mechanism for the 

type of experiments listed above and, as 

such, experiments will be limited to 

only two topic areas at this time 

(conservation and nutrition); (2) ERS 

does not intend to use the information 

collected under this approval for 

purposes of developing or evaluating 

policy; (3) ERS does not intend to 

invoke CIPSEA for the collection, but 

instead intends to protect respondent 

information under the Privacy Act of 

1974 and the E-Government Act of 2002, 

(4) ERS would like to amend the 

number of respondents to 6,900 and the 

number of burden hours to 7,025. 

The complexity and cost necessary to 

invoke CIPSEA is not justified given the 

nature of the collection; the collections 

would include a very limited amount of 

personally-identifiable information (PII), 

and would generally be designed to be 

hosted in university computer labs, 

where CIPSEA compliance could not be 

assured. Consistent with the Privacy Act 

and the E-Government Act, a Systems of 

Records Notice (SORN) and a Privacy 

Impact Assessment (PIA) will be 

submitted for approval, as appropriate. 

The SORN and PIA will document the 

ways in which participant personally 

identifiable information will be 

collected, stored, and accessed. Data 

will be managed for research purposes 

only. 

Specific details regarding information 

handling will be specified in individual 

submissions under this generic 

clearance, but will conform to these 

broad guidelines. 

This notice gives the public the 

opportunity to comment on: (1) The 

appropriate and reasonable invocation 

of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended 

and the E-Government Act of 2002 to 

assure that personal information 

collected by Federal agencies is 

protected, and (2) the increase in the 

number of respondents and the burden 

hours proposed by ERS. Comments 

should be sent to the address in the 

preamble. All responses to this notice 

will be summarized and included in the 

request for OMB approval. All 

comments will also become a matter of 

public record. 

Dated:January 29, 2013. 

Mary Bohman, 

Administrator, Economic Research Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–02607 Filed 2–5–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–18–P 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES