[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43080-43081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18406]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Services Survey

ACTION: Notice.

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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 September 19, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, 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 instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to David Lassman, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2744, FOB 
3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, and (301) 763-7202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau proposes a new quarterly survey of service 
industry activity called the Quarterly Services Survey (QSS). The QSS 
will begin a new economic indicator series which will produce, for 
selected service industries, quarterly estimates of total operating 
revenue and the percentage of revenue by class of customer. In 
addition, we also plan to collect total operating expenses from tax-
exempt firms in industries that have a large not-for-profit component. 
Selected service industries include information, professional 
scientific and technical services, administrative and support and waste 
management and remediation services. We plan to expand the QSS to 
include hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities beginning 
the first quarter 2005.
    We will mail the survey at the end of March 2004 and produce 
estimates for the fourth quarter 2003 and first quarter 2004. The first 
public data release will be in September 2004 covering the fourth 
quarter of 2003 and the first two quarters of 2004. We will release 
estimates no later than 90 days after the end of the quarter for each 
quarter thereafter. Our eventual goal, however, will be to reduce this 
period to 75 days after the end of the calendar quarter.
    The data will be collected from all of the largest firms and from a 
sample of small- and medium-sized businesses selected using a 
stratified sampling procedure. Each quarter the sample will be updated 
to reflect the addition of new business births and firms and 
organizations that have gone out of business.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis will use data gathered in this 
survey to significantly improve its quarterly Gross Domestic Product 
(GDP) and GDP by industry estimates. The data will provide the Federal 
Reserve Board and Council of Economic Advisors with timely information 
to assess current economic performance. Other government and private 
stakeholders will also benefit from a better understanding of important 
cyclical components of our economy.

II. Method of Collection

    We will collect this information by mail, fax, and a telephone 
follow-up.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number(s): QS-1(A), QS-1(E), QS-2(A), QS-2(E), QS-3(A), QS-
3(E).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions, and government hospitals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents for fiscal 
year 2004 is estimated to be $130,920 based on the median hourly salary 
of $21.82 for accountants and auditors. (Occupational Employment 
Statistics-Bureau of Labor Statistics ``2001 National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Estimates'') http://www.bls.gov/oes/2001/oes132022.htm.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.

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

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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: July 15, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-18406 Filed 7-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P