[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19495-19497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9677]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


The 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test

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 June 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Room 6625, 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 instruments and instructions 
should be directed to Idabelle Hovland, U.S. Census Bureau, Building 2, 
Room 2108, Washington, DC 20233-9200, 301-763-8443.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In the 1990 and 2000 Censuses, only federal civilian employees, 
U.S. military, and their dependents living overseas were included in 
the census. Counts of these people by state were obtained from 
administrative records and were included in the state

[[Page 19496]]

populations for the purpose of determining the apportionment of seats 
in the U.S. House of Representatives. No characteristics were collected 
for this population, and they were not included in any other 
tabulations or decennial census data products.
    Leading up to the 2000 Census, some Members of Congress, responding 
to concerns from groups representing overseas Americans, expressed an 
interest in expanding the census to include all Americans living 
overseas--private U.S. citizens as well as the federally affiliated. 
The Bureau informed interested stakeholders that it was too late to 
pursue an expanded overseas enumeration for 2000, but would investigate 
the feasibility for the 2010 Census.
    In December 2000, as part of the Census Bureau's appropriations 
bill for FY 2001, the Congress directed that the Census Bureau submit 
by September 30, 2001, a report on any methodological, logistical, or 
other issues associated with the inclusion of Americans living abroad 
in future decennial censuses. The Census Bureau submitted its report 
September 28, 2001. In the report, the Census Bureau outlined various 
policy, conceptual, and methodological issues that would have to be 
addressed during research and testing for the 2010 Census. The report 
indicated that a conference would be held with stakeholders in the near 
future and cited plans to conduct a test in 2004.
    In November 2001, the Census Bureau held the ``Conference on an 
Enumeration of Americans Overseas in the 2010 Census,'' attended by 
more than two dozen stakeholders, to begin to address issues identified 
in the September report and obtain input.
    In January 2002, the Census Bureau convened the 2010 Overseas 
Enumeration Research and Planning Group to address policy issues and 
develop and test a prototype system for collecting data from all 
Americans living overseas. The feasibility of such an enumeration will 
be assessed based on the information obtained from the testing cycle.
    In preparation for the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau plans to 
conduct the 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test as part of a research and 
testing program designed to determine the feasibility, quality, and 
cost of enumerating Americans living overseas during the 2010 Census. 
The results of the 2004 Test will be used to provide information and 
recommendations to inform a test in 2006. If the Census Bureau and the 
Congress decide to include an expanded overseas enumeration in the 2010 
census, a ``dress rehearsal'' would be conducted in 2008.
    The 2004 Test will include U.S. citizens living in France, Kuwait, 
and Mexico, regardless of how long they have resided abroad (this does 
not include those on vacations or short business trips). People who are 
not U.S. citizens will not be included in the counts.
    The Census Bureau selected France, Kuwait, and Mexico as test sites 
based on several criteria. For example, we wanted to have geographic 
diversity, significant numbers of U.S. citizens, and estimates from 
administrative records that could be compared to the test census counts 
for evaluation purposes.
    The objectives of the 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test are to 
determine the feasibility, quality and cost of collecting data from 
U.S. citizens living overseas.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will develop a communications strategy to inform 
and motivate respondents living in the test countries to answer the 
census. Using this communications strategy, overseas Americans in these 
test countries will be made aware of the Census Bureau's methodology to 
enumerate them in the 2004 Test.
    To enumerate overseas Americans in the test countries, the Census 
Bureau will employ three enumeration modes. The Census Bureau will 
develop a mailing list from persons responding to the ``Request for a 
Questionnaire'' (RFQ) form. These RFQ forms will be made available at 
embassies, consulates and organizations that serve overseas Americans, 
as well as the Internet. Using the United States Postal Service, the 
Census Bureau will mail a questionnaire to those respondents in the 
test countries using the mailing list created from the RFQ operation. 
The second enumeration mode entails the provision of questionnaires to 
U.S. citizens at embassies, consulates and organizations that serve 
overseas Americans. Lastly, the questionnaires also will be available 
on the Internet for respondents who wish to answer using a computer. 
The web site for the Internet responses will contain a questionnaire 
similar to the paper questionnaire. The Census Bureau will evaluate the 
effectiveness, response rate, and cost of each mode of enumeration.
    The Census Bureau will launch a promotional campaign for the RFQ, 
consisting of different promotional materials to promote and motivate 
overseas Americans to answer the census. The promotional materials will 
be sent to the different test countries with instructions in the 
handling of these materials. Subsequently, the Census Bureau will use 
advertising materials (magazines and newspapers) to promote and 
motivate persons to answer the census. The Bureau will evaluate the 
effectiveness of the plan in reaching the U.S. citizens in the test 
countries, the cost, and which of the different strategies worked best.
    The Census Bureau is designing a unique questionnaire for the 
overseas enumeration that will contain the same ``short form'' 
questions asked stateside for everyone in the household (i.e. name, 
relationship to others in the household, age, sex, race, and Hispanic 
origin). Additionally, for every person in the household, we are also 
asking for citizenship, stateside address, telephone number, social 
security number, passport number and the person's primary activity. The 
respondent completing the questionnaire for the household is also asked 
to provide the foreign address and telephone number for the household 
residence and to indicate the number of persons living in the residence 
as of April 1, 2004.
    The RFQ form contains six questions to be completed by the head of 
household. The questions include respondent name, country in which 
currently residing, mailing address of current residence, social 
security number, U.S. passport number and number of persons residing at 
address. ``Census Day,'' the reference date for enumerating 
respondents, will be April 1, 2004.
    On October 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003, overseas Americans 
may request questionnaires to be mailed to them. In February 2004, the 
Census Bureau will begin to mail the census test questionnaires to 
those who requested them. In March 2004, the questionnaires also will 
be available at the embassies, consulates, and the various 
organizations that serve overseas Americans. From March 2004 through 
July 2004, overseas Americans also may complete and submit their 
questionnaire via the Internet.
    Responses from paper mail returns and the Internet will be data 
captured in order to analyze, among other things, the demographic 
characteristics of respondents and patterns of item nonresponse. The 
results of the test will help shape the data collection strategy for 
the next census.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number(s): DO-1, DO-14.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.

[[Page 19497]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 450,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 75,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: We estimate the total cost to 
respondents for postage in mailing back their completed questionnaires 
to be $150,840. Respondents who reply via the internet will incur no 
cost.
    Respondent Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 of the United States Code, Sections 141 
and 193.

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: April 15, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-9677 Filed 4-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P