[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31068-31069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14754]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Annual Survey of Selected Services Transactions With Unaffiliated 
Foreign Persons

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 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 5, 1997.

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 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-22 Annual Survey of Selected Services Transactions With 
Unaffiliated Foreign Persons will obtain data on transactions in 
selected services between U.S. and unaffiliated foreign persons in 1997 
and subsequent years. The data from this survey will update the results 
of the 1996 BE-20 benchmark survey of selected services, and will 
provide sample data for the derivation of universe estimates for years 
between quinquennial benchmark surveys. 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,

[[Page 31069]]

and the national income and product accounts. The data also will 
support U.S. trade policy initiatives, including trade negotiations.
    To bring the annual BE-22 survey into conformity with the 1996 BE-
20 benchmark survey, which closed several gaps in coverage of 
international services transactions, and to provide annual coverage of 
a few types of services covered by the previous two benchmark surveys 
but which have grown to the point where annual coverage is needed, the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is considering adding coverage of: 
purchases (payments) and sales (receipts) of agricultural services; 
employment agencies and temporary help supply services; operational 
leasing 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. Finally, to better conform BEA surveys with current 
international standards, coverage of general use computer software 
royalties and license fees is being dropped from the BE-22 and moved to 
the BE-93, Annual Survey of Royalties, License Fees, and Other Receipts 
and Payments for Intangible Rights Between U.S. and Unaffiliated 
Foreign Persons.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey will be sent to potential respondents in January and 
responses are due on March 31, each year following the year covered by 
the survey. All U.S. persons who, in the year covered by the survey, 
had more than $1,000,000 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 
$1,000,000 or less may voluntarily report the data, or they must file 
an exemption claim.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0060.
    Form Number: BE-22.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses, government agencies, or others 
engaging in international transactions in covered services.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 11.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 17,250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $517,500 (based on an estimated 
reporting burden of 17,250 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 
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: June 2, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-14754 Filed 6-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P