[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32675-32676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15850]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4351-N-06]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments are due on or before August 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and should 
be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office of Policy Development and 
Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW., Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alan Fox, Economic and Market Analysis Division, Office of Policy 
Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street, SW., Room 8222, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 
708-0614, Extension 5863; e-mail [email protected]. This is not a toll-
free number. Copies of the proposed forms and other available documents 
submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Fox.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Housing and Urban 
Development will submit the proposed information collection package to 
OMB for review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.)
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; 
including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Section 8 Random Digit Dialing Fair Market Rent 
Telephone Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2528-0142.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This 
provides HUD with a fast, inexpensive way to estimate and update 
Section 8 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) in areas not covered by AHS or CPI 
surveys, and in areas where FMRs are believed to be incorrect. It also 
provides estimates of annual rent changes. Section 8(C)(1) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 requires the Secretary to publish 
Fair Market Rents (FMRs) annually to be effective on October 1 of each 
year. FMRs are used for the Section 8 Rental Certificate Program 
(including space rentals by owners of manufactured homes under that 
program); the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program; 
housing assisted under the Loan Management and Property Disposition 
programs; payment standards for the Rental Voucher program; and any 
other programs whose regulations specify their use.
    Random digit dialing (RDD) telephone surveys have been used for 
several years to adjust FMRs. These surveys are based on a sampling 
procedure that uses computers to select statistically random samples of 
telephone numbers to locate certain types of rental housing units for 
surveying. HUD contracts with a private company to conduct two types of 
RDD surveys: (1) Approximately 50 individual FMR areas are surveyed 
every year to test the accuracy of their FMRs; (2) In addition, 20 RDD 
surveys are conducted every year to provide updating factors for FMRs 
not surveyed individually and for Annual Adjustment Factors (AAFs). 
These surveys are conducted in the nonmetropolitan portions of all 10 
HUD regions, and in the 10 metropolitan portions that do not have their 
own Consumer Price Index (CPI) surveys.
    Members of affected public: Individuals or households living in 
areas surveyed.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response: The RDD surveys require a great many 
telephone calls to reach the required number of eligible respondents--
those living in 1 or 2 bedroom nonsubsidized rental housing,

[[Page 32676]]

who had moved in recently. Most numbers are screened out on the first 
completed telephone call, which is brief. The few that are eligible are 
asked a longer series of questions, for a total elapsed time of about 4 
minutes each. Information collection is voluntary.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Pending OMB 
approval.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and Section 8(C)(1) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937.

    Dated: June 8, 1998.
Paul A. Leonard,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 98-15850 Filed 6-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-M