[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44890-44891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21464]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Annual Capital Expenditures Survey

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 October 18, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5033, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at LE[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Charles Funk, Census Bureau, Room 1285-3, 
Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-3324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans the continuing information collection for 
the 1999 through 2001 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES). The 
basic annual survey collects data on fixed assets and depreciation, 
sales and

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receipts, and capital expenditures for new and used structures and 
equipment. The ACES is the sole source of detailed comprehensive 
statistics on actual business spending by domestic, private, nonfarm 
businesses operating in the United States. Employer and nonemployer 
businesses are included in the survey.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the primary Federal user of 
our annual program statistics, uses the information in refining and 
evaluating annual estimates of investment in structures and equipment 
in the national income and product accounts, compiling annual input-
output tables, and computing gross domestic product (GDP) by industry. 
The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) uses the data to improve estimates of 
investment indicators for monetary policy. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) uses the data to improve estimates of capital stocks 
for productivity analysis.
    Industry analysts use these data for market analysis, economic 
forecasting, identifying business opportunities, product development, 
and business planning.
    Changes from the previous ACES are the elimination of detailed 
capital expenditures by type of structure and type of equipment, the 
incorporation of the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS) into the ACES, and a supplemental questionnaire requesting 
information on electronic business (E-business) processes used by 
businesses.
    Detailed capital expenditures by type of structure and type of 
equipment data were collected last year in the 1998 ACES. These data, 
collected together once every five years, are not scheduled to be 
requested again until the 2003 ACES.
    Previous year's estimates of capital expenditures were published on 
the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis. Beginning with the 
1999 ACES, we will publish data on the NAICS. Due to the major 
restructuring of industries that occurred under the NAICS, we will 
collect and publish data for approximately 132 industries. This is an 
increase from 97 industries under the SIC system.
    We are planning a supplemental questionnaire requesting information 
on E-business processes used by businesses. Although questions are not 
yet finalized, we anticipate collecting check-box information on 
whether businesses use or plan to use E-business processes for 
activities such as procurement, production control, automated stock 
replenishment, marketing, electronic selling, payment processing, 
customer management and support, automated employee services, training, 
information sharing, video conferencing, and recruiting.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to 
collect data. Respondent companies are permitted to respond via 
facsimile machine to our toll-free number. Companies will be asked to 
respond to the survey within 30 days of the initial mailing. Letters 
and/or telephone calls encouraging participation will be directed to 
respondents that have not responded by the designated time.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0782.
    Form Number: ACE-1 (Sent to employer companies reporting payroll to 
the Internal Revenue Service), ACE-2 (Sent to nonemployer businesses), 
and ACE-B (Sent to employer and nonemployer businesses for E-business 
information).
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, non-
profit institutions, small businesses or organizations, and self-
employed individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: There are 57,000 (42,000 employer 
companies, and 15,000 nonemployer businesses) under NAICS for the basic 
annual survey. The increase of 11,000 respondents is due to the 
expansion of industries under the NAICS. All 57,000 businesses will 
receive the E-business supplement.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The average for all respondents is 
1.234 hours. For companies completing form ACE-1, the range is 2 to 16 
hours, averaging 2.857 hours. For companies completing form ACE-2, the 
range is less than 1 hour to 2 hours, averaging 1 hour. For companies 
completing the ACE-B, the range is estimated at less than five minutes 
to ten minutes, averaging six minutes (.10 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The total annual burden is 
140,700 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The total cost to all respondents is 
estimated to be $1,968,393 based on the hourly salary of $13.99 for 
entry level accountants and auditors. (Occupational Employment 
Statistics--Bureau of Labor Statistics 1997 National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Estimates for Professional, Paraprofessional, and 
Technical Occupations). http://stats.bls.gov/oes/national/oes__prof.htm
    Respondents' Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Sections 182, 224, 
and 225.

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 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: August 13, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-21464 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P