[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25014-25015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12000]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Generic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Surveys

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Joanne Dickinson, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Room 
3019-3, Washington, DC 20233-0800, and 301-457-4081.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau is requesting an extension of the generic 
clearance to conduct customer satisfaction research surveys which may 
be in the form of mailed or electronic questionnaires and/or focus 
groups or personal interviews.
    The Census Bureau has ranked a customer focused environment as one 
of its most important strategic planning objectives. The Bureau 
routinely needs to collect and analyze customer feedback about its 
products and services to better align them to its customers' needs and 
preferences. Several products and distribution channels have been 
designed/redesigned based on feedback from its various customer 
satisfaction research efforts.
    Each research design is reviewed for content, utility, and user-
friendliness by a variety of appropriate staff (including research 
design and subject-matter specialists). The concept and design are 
tested by internal staff and a select sample of respondents to confirm 
its appropriateness, user-friendliness, and to estimate burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information. 
Collection techniques are discussed and included in the research 
concept design discussions to define the most time-, cost-efficient and 
accurate collection media.
    The clearance operates in the following manner: a block of hours is 
reserved at the beginning of each year, and the particular activities 
that will be conducted under the clearance are not specified in 
advance. The Census Bureau provides information to OMB about the 
specific activities on a flow basis throughout the year. OMB is 
notified of each activity in a letter that gives specific details about 
the activity, rather than by means of individual clearance packages. At 
the end of each year, a report is submitted to OMB that summarizes the 
number of hours used as well as the nature and results of the 
activities completed under the clearance.
    Some modifications of the clearance from previous years are 
planned. The number of hours is expanded from 3,500 per year to 3,750 
to allow for larger-scale research efforts with increased analytical 
power. In addition, incentives as a survey procedure may also be the 
subject of research under the clearance.

II. Method of Collection

    This research may be in the form of mailed or electronic 
questionnaires and/or focus groups or personal interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0760.
    Form Number: Various.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, State or local 
governments, farms, businesses or other for-profit organizations, 
Federal agencies or employees, Non-profit institutions, Small 
businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 45,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,750 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents, 
except for their time to answer the questions posed.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Executive Order 12862.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information

[[Page 25015]]

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 (including hours and 
cost) of the proposed collection of information; ( 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 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 30, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-12000 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P