[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12042-12043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6049]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the 
following proposal for collection of information under the provisions 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
    Title: Customer Input--Patent and Trademark Customer Surveys.
    Form Number(s): Form numbers will be determined as applicable for 
the various surveys.
    Agency Approval Number: 0651-0038.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Burden: 3,100 hours annually.
    Number of Respondents: 8,100 responses per year.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: Based on results from testing the various 
types of surveys with the representative customer groups and with 
internal test groups, the USPTO estimates that it takes the public 15 
minutes to complete telephone surveys and face-to-face interviews, 5 
minutes to complete questionnaires, customer surveys (both paper and 
electronic), and comment cards, and 2 hours to participate in focus 
groups. The USPTO estimates that it takes the public 30 minutes to 
complete the paper version of the annual patent and annual trademark 
customer satisfaction surveys, but only 20 minutes to complete the same 
survey electronically.
    Needs and Uses: The public uses the various types of surveys to 
express their opinions about the services and information products 
offered by the USPTO and about the quality of the customer service that 
they receive from the USPTO. Additionally, these various surveys allow 
the public to offer their suggestions and comments concerning the 
USPTO, its services and information products, and its customer service. 
Depending on the type of survey, the public can provide their comments 
on the spot to the interviewer, or complete the survey at their own 
pace and either mail their responses to the USPTO or submit their 
responses electronically via a web-based survey. The USPTO uses the 
data collected from these surveys for strategic planning, the 
allocation of resources, the establishment of performance goals, and 
the verification and establishment of service standards. The USPTO also 
uses this data to assess customer satisfaction with USPTO products and 
services, assess customer priorities in service characteristics, and 
identify areas where service levels differ from customer expectations.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-
profit, and not-for-profit institutions.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Susan K. Brown, Records Officer, Office of Data 
Architecture and Services, Data Administration Division, USPTO, Suite

[[Page 12043]]

310, 2231 Crystal Drive, Washington, DC 20231, by telephone at 703-308-
7400, or by e-mail at [email protected].
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent on or before April 14, 2003 to David Rostker, 
OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: March 6, 2003.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of Data Architecture and Services, Data 
Administration Division.
[FR Doc. 03-6049 Filed 3-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P