[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 213 (Thursday, November 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65839-65840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28156]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 102700MC]


Public Assessment of Improved NOAA Weather Radio Automated Voice

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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

[[Page 65840]]

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 January 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Joanne Swanson/Herb White, 1325 East West Highway 
SSMC II Room 13202, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Weather Service (NWS) is undertaking an acquisition 
effort to replace the existing voice technology used for automation of 
the NOAA Weather Radio. The current text-to-speech voice technology has 
been found to be of questionable understandability and acceptability to 
the public, and new technology has emerged that can better serve the 
nation's interests in receipt of broadcast weather warnings, watches, 
and forecasts from NOAA Weather Radio. The NWS seeks to assess 
candidates for the voice replacement with the listening public and 
marine community prior to selecting and acquiring the new technology.

II. Method of Collection

    It is intended that multiple focus groups will be formed and 
canvassed by playing the candidate voices speaking a variety of 
products and assessing the public reaction to each. In addition, some 
form of Web-based voluntary assessment and feedback may be offered, 
along with voice evaluation teams comprised of affected broadcast and 
public agencies.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business and other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; farms; Federal, 
State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 800.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours for focus groups; 5 minutes 
for Web surveys.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 860.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: October 26, 2000
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-28156 File 11-1-00; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KE