[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67181-67182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31857]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


E-Government 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 26, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the 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 Stephen Poyta, Chief, Census Management Staff, 
Governments Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233-6800 
(301-457-1580).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Title 13, section 182, of the United States Code authorizes the 
Secretary of Commerce to conduct surveys deemed necessary to furnish 
annual and other interim current data on the subjects covered by the 
Census of Governments.
    The recent development of public services dubbed ``Electronic 
Government,'' or ``E-Government,'' is a result of the rapid growth of 
computer access and the Internet. The emergence of electronic 
technologies has fueled a significant change in the public sector's 
manner in conducting its business. Current measures of public 
activity--established in a period before computers--do not provide 
gauges of this new and important change. The public sector is a major 
component of the economy, as both a purchaser and deliverer of goods 
and services. It is important that our Nation measure this development 
because the potential effects of this new technology include the 
promise of greater efficiencies in the delivery of public services, 
more effective communications between the public and its government, 
and a wider scope of public services available to more people.
    The Census Bureau plans to conduct a survey of state governments in 
order to begin measuring the scope and effects of this new activity. 
The survey's broad definition of E-Government includes any government 
process conducted on-line, employing computer enabled electronic 
devices. Title 13, section 182, of the United States Code authorizes 
the Secretary of Commerce to conduct surveys deemed necessary to 
furnish annual and other interim current data on the subjects covered 
by the Census of Governments. This survey concentrates on three 
different measurable parts of total Information Technology (IT) and E-
Government:
    (1) Infrastructure--the costs to governments of providing 
electronic hardware and software that form the backbone of E-
Government, and the personnel and organizational supports for total IT 
and E-Government;
    (2) Processes--the E-Government interactions of citizens, 
businesses, and other governments with their governments; and
    (3) Transactions--measurements for these E-Government processes.
    The Census Bureau, as the premier national data collection agency, 
is uniquely situated to measure E-Government. The current Census Bureau 
measures of public sector economic activity--used by Federal data 
analysis agencies such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the 
Federal Reserve Board--provide an important basis for making informed 
policy decisions. The addition of E-Government information will help 
governmental leaders at all levels formulate policies that will improve 
our entire governmental system. Other users of these data will be the 
State and local governments and related organizations, public interest 
groups, the academic community, and many business, market and private 
research organizations.

II. Method of Collection

    Basic questionnaires will be sent to the primary technology offices 
within each state, with additional forms, designed for specific types 
of departments, agencies, and offices, etc., also incorporated. 
Information from state governments and the District of Columbia will be 
compiled by office staff from questionnaire responses collected via 
standard mail and the Internet.
    The Census Bureau will also research the feasibility of developing 
cooperative data sharing and central collection arrangements with the 
state governments to minimize respondent burden.
    Electronic data collection and dissemination will be developed and 
incorporated.
    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 765 (15 agencies per State 
government).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 6 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,590 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $82,436.40 ($17.96 per hour*).
    * Based upon the 2000 Annual Employment Survey--Average hourly rate 
for state full-time equivalent employees in financial administration.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Section 182.

III. 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

[[Page 67182]]

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: December 20, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-31857 Filed 12-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P