[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 326-327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22560]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


The American Community Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paper work and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed 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 March 5, 2007.

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 Susan Schechter, U.S. Census Bureau, American 
Community Survey Office, Washington, DC 20233 via FAX on (301) 763-8070 
or via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Given the rapid demographic changes experienced in recent years and 
the strong expectation that such changes will continue and accelerate, 
the once-a-decade detailed data collection as part of a decennial 
census is no longer acceptable. To meet the needs and expectations of 
the country, the Census Bureau developed the American Community Survey. 
This survey collects detailed population and housing data every month 
and provides tabulations of these data on a yearly basis. In the past, 
the long-form data were collected only at the time of each decennial 
census. The American Community Survey allowed the Census Bureau to 
remove the long form from the plans for the 2010 Census, thus reducing 
operational risks, improving accuracy, and providing more relevant 
data. After years of development and testing, the American Community 
Survey began full implementation in households in January 2005 and in 
group quarters (GQs) in January 2006.
    The American Community Survey provides more timely information for 
critical economic planning by governments and the private sector. In 
the current information-based economy, federal, state, tribal, and 
local decision makers, as well as private business and non-governmental 
organizations, need current, reliable, and comparable socioeconomic 
data to chart the future.

[[Page 327]]

In 2006, the American Community Survey began publishing up-to-date 
profiles of American communities every year, providing policymakers, 
planners, and service providers in the public and private sectors this 
information every year--not just every ten years.
    The American Community Survey will provide data at the census tract 
level by July 2010. These data are needed by federal agencies and 
others and provides assurance that long-form type data are available 
after the elimination of the long form from the 2010 Census.
    The Census Bureau presently plans to resubmit the American 
Community Survey to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
extended clearance with content changes. The current ACS content has 
been reviewed by the Census Bureau, in conjunction with Federal agency 
stakeholders, to determine potential areas for improved item response 
and/or data quality.
    In the 2006 ACS Methods Test, the Census Bureau conducted cognitive 
testing of questions identified by the Census Bureau and federal agency 
stakeholders for changes to improve data quality and/or item response 
rates. The question, instruction, and/or response category 
modifications to some of the 2005 ACS content were field tested. The 
tested questions included: Year structure built, number of rooms and 
bedrooms, plumbing and kitchen facilities, telephone availability, 
vehicles, heating fuel, food stamp benefit, value of this property, 
mortgage components, place of birth, citizenship, year of arrival in 
the U.S., school enrollment, educational attainment, residence 1 year 
ago, disability, military status, period of military service, work last 
week, temporarily absent from a job, looking for work, weeks worked, 
industry and occupation. Based on the results of the testing, 
modifications to some of these questions will be incorporated into the 
2008 ACS data collection instruments.
    In addition to testing modifications to 2005 ACS questions, the 
2006 ACS Methods Test also included testing three new topics proposed 
by Federal agency stakeholders: Health insurance coverage, marital 
history, and veteran's service-connected disability. Two final 
components of the 2006 ACS Methods Test included testing a sequential 
verses grid design to the ACS questionnaire, and testing the inclusion 
of a questionnaire instruction booklet in the mailing package. The 
results of 2006 ACS testing will be incorporated into the survey 
instruments and formally submitted to OMB for review and approval.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households selected 
for the American Community Survey. For households that do not return a 
questionnaire, Census Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews 
via Computer-assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). We will also conduct 
Computer-assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) for a sub sample of 
nonrespondents. A quality control reinterview will be conducted for a 
small sample of respondents.
    For most types of GQs, Census Bureau field representatives (FRs) 
will conduct personal interviews with respondents to complete 
questionnaires or, if necessary, leave questionnaires and ask 
respondents to complete. Information from GQ contacts will be collected 
via CAPI. A GQ contact reinterview will be conducted from a sample of 
GQs primarily through CATI. A very small percentage of the GQ 
reinterviews will be conducted via CAPI.
    The Census Bureau staff will provide Telephone Questionnaire 
Assistance (TQA) and if the respondent indicates a desire to complete 
the survey by telephone, the TQA interviewer conducts the interview.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number(s): ACS-1, ACS-1(SP), ACS-1(PR), ACS-1(PR)SP, ACS-
1(GQ), ACS-1(PR)(GQ), GQFQ, ACS CATI (HU), ACS CAPI (HU), ACS RI (HU), 
and AGQ RI.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals, households, and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: We plan to contact the following 
number of respondents each year: 3,000,000 households; 200,000 persons 
in group quarters; 20,000 contacts in group quarters; 27,000 households 
for reinterview; and 1,500 group quarters contacts for reinterview.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Estimates are 38 minutes per 
household, 15 minutes per group quarters contact, 25 minutes per 
resident in group quarters, and 10 minutes per household or GQ contact 
in the reinterview samples.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimate is an annual 
average of 1,994,500 burden hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for their time, there is no 
cost to respondents.
    Respondent Obligation: Mandatory.
    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 through the use of 
automated collections techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for the OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 28, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-22560 Filed 1-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P