[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32770-32771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16055]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposal To Collect Information on U.S. Transactions in Selected 
Services with Unaffiliated Persons

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments 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 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 August 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Wilson D. Haigler, 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 instructions 
should be directed to: R. David Belli, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Bureau of Economic Analysis, BE-50(OC), Washington, DC 20230 
(Telephone: 202-606-9800).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The BE-20 Benchmark Survey of Selected Services Transactions with 
Unaffiliated Foreign Persons will obtain universe data on transactions 
in selected services between U.S. and unaffiliated foreign persons in 
1996. The data from the survey will provide benchmarks for deriving 
current universe estimates of

[[Page 32771]]

such transactions from sample data collected in subsequent years. The 
information obtained from the survey is critically needed for tracking 
international transactions in new, growing, and volatile categories of 
services. The data are necessary for compiling monthly estimates of 
U.S. international transactions in goods and services, the U.S. balance 
of payments, and the national income and product accounts. The data 
also will support U.S. trade policy initiatives, including trade 
negotiations.
    To close gaps in existing coverage of international services 
transactions, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is considering 
adding several categories of services not included in the previous 
(1991) BE-20 survey. Specifically, BEA is considering adding coverage 
of purchases (payments) and sales (receipts) of commissions by 
unaffiliated sales agents, purchases (but not sales) of financial 
services, and sales (but not purchases) of merchanting services. BEA is 
also considering adding a broad category for purchases and sales of 
``other'' business, professional, and technical services; this category 
would likely cover language-translation services, security services, 
collection services, actuarial services, salvage services, certain 
waste cleanup services, and, possibly, other specified services.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey will be sent to potential respondents in January 1997, 
and responses are due on March 31, 1997. All U.S. persons who, during 
1996, had more that $500,000 of purchases from, or sales to, 
unaffiliated foreign persons in a covered service must report data. 
U.S. persons who receive a copy of the survey and who had purchases and 
sales transactions in a covered service with unaffiliated foreign 
persons of $500,000 or less may voluntarily report the data, or they 
must file an exemption claim.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0058.
    Form Number: BE-20.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses, government agencies, or others 
engaging in international transactions in covered services.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 12 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden hours: 19,200 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $576,000 (based on an estimated 
reporting burden of 19,200 hours and an estimated hourly cost of $30).

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 has 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 
colleted; 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: June 18, 1996.
Wilson D. Haigler,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-16055 Filed 6-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-EA-P