[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44738-44739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19421]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Service Annual 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 September 29, 
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 Ruth Bramblett, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2775-FOB 
3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-7089 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Today, about 50 percent of all economic activity is accounted for 
by services that are narrowly defined to exclude retail and wholesale 
trade. The Census Bureau currently measures the total output of these 
selected service industries annually in its Service Annual Survey. This 
survey now covers all or some of the following eight sectors: 
Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Finance and Insurance; 
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Professional, Scientific, and 
Technical Services; Administration and Support and Waste Management and

[[Page 44739]]

Remediation Services; Health Care and Social Assistance; Arts, 
Entertainment, and Recreation; and Other Services.
    The Census Bureau proposes an expansion of the Service Annual 
Survey to provide data on product composition of service industry 
output and to provide data that will improve the quality of value-added 
measures for these service industries.
    We will begin to implement, incrementally, the collection of 
detailed service products defined in the provisional North American 
Product Classification System (NAPCS) into the 2003 Service Annual 
Survey. Provisional NAPCS products were added to the 2001 Service 
Annual Survey for most of the Information Sector (NAICS 51, except 512) 
and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (NAICS 5415). For 
2003, we plan to add provisional NAPCS products to the Motion Picture 
and Sound Recording Industries (NAICS 512) and to selected Financial 
Services (NAICS 5231 and 5239). In the 2004 Service Annual Survey, we 
will begin collecting NAPCS product detail for Professional, 
Scientific, and Technical Services (NAICS 54); Administrative Support 
and Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS 56); and Hospitals 
and Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (NAICS 622 and 623). We 
will complete NAPCS product coverage of all remaining industries in the 
2005 Service Annual Survey.
    We also plan to collect annual data on the cost of selected 
purchased services and materials in the 2003 Service Annual Survey for 
the following: Information (NAICS 51); selected Financial Services 
(NAICS 5231 and 5239); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 
(NAICS 54); Administrative and Support and Waste Management and 
Remediation Services (NAICS 56); and Hospitals and Nursing and 
Residential Care Facilities (NAICS 622 and 623). For the 2004 survey, 
we will begin collecting these data for all remaining industries 
covered in the Service Annual Survey. Key data items include the cost 
of materials and supplies other than for resale and contract labor; and 
purchased telecommunications services, software and data processing 
services, management and consulting services, fuels, electricity, lease 
and rental payments, and all other purchased services. The availability 
of these data will greatly improve the quality of the intermediate-
inputs and value-added estimates in BEA's annual input-output and GDP 
by industry accounts. Annual data on purchased services and materials 
will also be used as indicators to update census year data collected on 
the Business Expenses Survey.
    The Census Bureau is authorized by Title 13, United States Code, to 
conduct surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered 
by the major censuses. These surveys provide continuing and timely 
national statistical data for the period between economic censuses.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the primary Federal user of 
these annual program statistics, uses the information in developing the 
national income and product accounts, compiling benchmark and annual 
input-output tables, and computing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 
industry. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) use 
the transportation related data for policy development and program 
management and evaluation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses 
the data as inputs to its Producer Price Indexes and in developing 
productivity measurements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) uses the health related data in the development of the 
National Health Expenditure Accounts. The Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) uses the broadcasting and telecommunications data as a 
means for assessing FCC policy. The Census Bureau uses the data to 
provide new insight into changing structural and cost conditions that 
will impact the planning and design of future economic census 
questionnaires. Private industry also uses the data as a tool for 
marketing analysis.
    Data are collected from all of the largest firms and from a sample 
of small- and medium-sized businesses selected using a stratified 
sampling procedure. The samples are reselected periodically, generally 
at 5-year intervals. The largest firms continue to be canvassed when 
the sample is re-drawn, while nearly all of the small- and medium-sized 
firms from the prior sample are replaced. We collect these data by 
using a mail-out/mail-back survey questionnaire.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0422.
    Form Number: The Service Annual Survey program consists of 260 
forms which are too numerous to list here.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, and Government hospitals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: On average, we expect 1 hour and 30 
minutes as an estimate.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 58,249 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents for fiscal 
year 2004 is estimated to be $1,270,993 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/oes132011.htm.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code; Sections 182, 224, 
and 225.

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: July 25, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-19421 Filed 7-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P