[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 72164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27204]



[[Page 72164]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Business and Professional Classification Report

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 11, 
2005.

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 Scott Handmaker, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 3-1640, 
Washington, DC 20233, (301) 763-7107 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau sponsors the SQ-CLASS, ``Business and 
Professional Classification Report'', to collect information needed to 
keep the retail, wholesale, and service samples current with the 
business universe. Because of rapid changes in the marketplace caused 
by the emergence of new businesses, the deaths of others, transfer of 
ownership, mergers, and so forth, on a quarterly basis the Census 
Bureau canvasses a sample of new Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) 
obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social 
Security Administration (SSA). Each selected firm is canvassed once for 
a type of business description, measure of size, and company 
affiliation on the establishment(s) associated with the new EIN. In 
essence, from the perspective of the business firm, this is a one time 
collection of data. A different sample of EINs is canvassed four times 
a year.
    We are revising the SQ-CLASS to improve the flow of the questions 
as well as to provide information needed to assign the proper North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0189.
    Form Number: SQ-CLASS.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Retail, Wholesale, and Service firms in the United 
States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Annually, approximately 50,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 13 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,835 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondent is 
estimated to be $255,598 for fiscal year 2005.
    Respondent's Obligation: This collection of information is 
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 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 the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 7, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-27204 Filed 12-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P