[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 67 (Friday, April 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 15216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8370]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census


Annual Survey of Communication Services

ACTION: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment 
Requested.

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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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 4, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
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 instruction(s) 
should be directed to Thomas E. Zabelsky, Bureau of the Census, Room 
2775-FOB 3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301)457-2766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Annual Survey of Communication Services (ASCS) provides 
detailed estimates of revenue and expenses for the telephone, radio and 
television broadcasting, cable and pay television, and other 
communication service industries. The Bureau of Economic Analysis 
(BEA), the primary Federal user, uses the information in developing the 
national income and product accounts, and compiling benchmark and 
annual input-output tables, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 
industry. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) uses these data as 
a means for assessing FCC policy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 
uses these data as input to its Producer Price Indices. Private 
industry uses the data in planning and as a marketing analysis tool. 
Data are collected from all of the largest firms and from a sample of 
small- and medium-sized businesses, selected using a stratified random 
sampling procedure. The ASCS sample is reselected periodically, 
generally at 5-year intervals. The largest firms continue to be 
canvassed when the sample is re-drawn, while nearly all of the small- 
and medium-sized firms from the old sample are replaced. The next such 
revision, utilizing results from the 1992 economic census, will be 
effective with the 1996 survey year.

II. Method of Collection

    We collect this information by mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0706.
    Form Numbers: B-516, B-517, B-518, B-519, B-520, B-521.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not 
for profit institutions, Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1780.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3.9 hours.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 7000.
    Estimated Total Cost: The total cost in fiscal year 1996 for the 
Annual Survey of Communication Services is $300,000, all borne by the 
Bureau of Census. The cost to the respondent is estimated to be 
$350,000, based on an annual response burden of 7,000 hours and a rate 
of $50 per hour to complete the form.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 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 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 1, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-8370 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P