[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 130 (Monday, July 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 37188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13218]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commercial 
Service Market Segmentation Study of Moderate U.S. Exporters Survey

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
continuing information, as required Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 7, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th & 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to: Gary Rand, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; phone number: 202-482-0691; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In an effort to remain relevant to the marketplace and optimize our 
respective operations, the Commercial Service (CS), Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP), Census Bureau (Census), and Export-Import 
Bank (Ex-Im) have formed a project team to conduct market segmentation 
research and analysis. The market segmentation is a systematic approach 
for identifying clusters of companies with similar needs and behavior, 
and developing service offerings and sales/marketing approaches 
targeted at segments with the greatest return of investment. The 
purpose of this initiative is to gain market knowledge and generate 
statistically valid characterizations about the needs and buying 
behavior of exporting companies, with a particular focus on moderate 
exporters (those U.S. firms that currently export, but on a limited or 
reactive basis and whose international sales comprise less than 10% of 
total sales or whose international sales growth is less than 10% per 
year). From this research, services, pricing, and messaging may be 
repositioned to address the exporting needs of small and medium-sized 
businesses.

II. Method of Collection

    The CS, MEP, Census, and Ex-Im have contracted with Pacific 
Consulting Group (PCG) to conduct surveys to gain insight into the 
attitudes, needs, and behaviors of moderate exporters.
    PCG will recruit firms over the phone using lists obtained from 
third party vendors. Data collection will be conducted during a 
telephone survey. A telephone survey was chosen over a web survey for 
the following reasons: (1) Since no databases of current or potential 
exporters is available from a governmental agency, PCG will purchase a 
list from Dun and Bradstreet. The list contains contact information 
including phone numbers but not e-mail addresses; (2) Firms do not 
offer e-mail address databases, to obtain e-mail addresses, the 
addresses must be manually extracted from a firm's Web site; (3) While 
web surveys are easier to administer and provide a convenient option 
for the respondent, they do not have as high a completion rate as phone 
surveys. This is especially true when there is no incentive for the 
respondent to complete the survey; and (4) The web survey has more 
potential to be completed by a respondent other than the targeted 
respondent, i.e. there is no way to verify who completed the survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 800.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $0.

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 costs) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or 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 3, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-13218 Filed 7-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P