[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13959-13960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3947]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Quarterly Survey of Transactions Between U.S. and Unaffiliated 
Foreign Persons in Selected Services and in Intangible Assets

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 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 5 p.m. May 19, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diane 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], ((202) 482-0266).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information or copies of the survey and instructions to Christopher 
Emond, Chief, Special Surveys Branch, International Investment 
Division, (BE-50), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9826; fax: (202) 606-
5318; or via the Internet at [email protected], ((202) 482-
0266).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Form BE-25, Quarterly Survey of Transactions Between U.S. and 
Unaffiliated Foreign Persons in Selected Services and in Intangible 
Assets, obtains quarterly data from companies that have receipts from 
or payments to unaffiliated foreign persons in any of the types of 
transactions covered by the survey. The data are needed to monitor 
trade in services and in intangible assets, analyze its impact on the 
U.S. and foreign economies, compile and improve the U.S. economic 
accounts, support U.S. commercial policy on services and intangible 
assets, conduct trade promotion, and improve the ability of U.S. 
businesses to identify and evaluate market opportunities.
    The data from the survey are primarily intended as general purpose 
statistics. They are needed to answer

[[Page 13960]]

any number of research and policy questions related to cross-border 
trade in services.
    The form remains the same as in the past. No changes in the data 
collected or in exemption levels are proposed.

II. Method of Collection

    Survey forms will be sent to U.S. companies each quarter; responses 
will be due within 45 days after the close of each fiscal quarter, 
except for the final quarter of the fiscal year, when the reports are 
due within 90 days after the close of the quarter. Potential 
respondents are U.S. business enterprises and not-for-profit 
institutions that have receipts from unaffiliated foreign persons in 
any of the types of transactions covered by the survey greater than $6 
million for the prior calendar year or that are expected to be greater 
than $6 million in the current calendar year; or that have payments to 
unaffiliated foreign persons in any of the types of transactions 
covered by the survey greater than $4 million for the prior calendar 
year or that are expected to be greater than $4 million in the current 
calendar year. The data collected are cut-off sample data. In addition, 
estimates are developed based upon previously reported or estimated 
data for non-respondents, including those companies that fall below the 
reporting threshold for the survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0608-0067.
    Form Number: BE-25.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: U.S. companies and not-for-profit institutions 
that transact with unaffiliated foreign persons in selected services or 
in intangible assets.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 550 per quarter; 2,200 annually.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 16 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 35,200 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,408,000 (based on an estimated 
reporting burden of 35,200 hours and an estimated hourly cost of $40).
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

    Legal Authority: The International Investment and Trade in 
Services Survey Act, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended.

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 will 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: March 14, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-3947 Filed 3-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P