[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71116-71117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24199]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Census 2010 
Participation Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before February 12, 2008.

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 Nancy A. Bates, U.S. Census Bureau, C2PO, Room 
8H491, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233 at 301-763-5248 (or 
via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request clearance to conduct the Census 
Participation Survey to measure public knowledge, awareness, and 
perceptions about the 2010 Census. This research is designed to 
complement previous research conducted for Census 2000 as well as the 
Census Planning Database (a geographic summary file with Census 2000 
response information) to inform the strategic direction of the 2010 
Census Integrated Communications Plan (ICP).
    Every ten years, the Census Bureau is congressionally mandated to 
count everyone (citizens and non-citizens) residing in the United 
States. An accurate count is critical for many reasons including but 
not limited to:
     Congressional reapportionment,
     Redistricting congressional boundaries;
     Community planning; and
     Distribution of public funds and program development.

The role of the ICP is to increase public awareness and motivate people 
to respond to the census promptly, saving millions of taxpayer dollars. 
The specific objectives of the ICP are:
     Increase mail response;
     Improve cooperation with enumerators; and
     Improve overall accuracy and reduce differential 
undercount
    For the first time in Census 2000, the Census Bureau ran a paid 
advertising campaign to support Census data collection activities. This 
campaign was considered a very successful initiative and one of several 
reasons cited with helping to reverse declining mail response rates. In 
developing the 2000 campaign, the Census Bureau relied on one's 
likelihood to engage in civic activities as a proxy to one's likelihood 
to respond to the census. The campaign was built on the slogan, ``This 
is your Future. Don't leave it blank.'' The intent of this slogan and 
related variations was to incite a sense of personal benefit, community 
benefit, and infer a sense of urgency. The target mail response rate 
for the 2010 Census has been set at 69 percent, higher than the 67 
percent obtained in Census 2000. To support this goal, the ICP includes 
a communications campaign based on behavior during the 2000 Census and 
current knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, barriers, and motivations 
specific to 2010 Census participation. This model will provide 
contemporary insight into public motivations specific to the census. 
There are many commonalities to Census 2000 such as low Census 
favorability; lack of

[[Page 71117]]

awareness and personal relevancy; and many motivators that were 
leveraged in 2000 still resonate. However, the social and political 
landscape has shifted since Census 2000 and the Census Bureau is facing 
new challenges such as:
     Distrust in government is higher than ever;
     Confidentiality issues heightened;
     Shifting core values (quality of life; family values);
     Definition of community is broadening;
     Recent debates on immigration; and
     Increased language barriers.

    The purpose of the Census Participation Survey is to inform 
tactical and strategic decisions for the ICP. The collected data will 
not be used to produce official Census Bureau estimates.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Participation Survey will be administered to a sample of 
adults. Most interviews will be selected though random-digit-dialing 
and administered via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), 
while a small portion of the interviews will be conducted in-person. 
Some of the CATI interviews will be conducted on the respondent's cell 
phone. A $10 gift will be provided to respondents as compensation for 
costs (inbound charges) incurred from the cell phone interview. 
Additionally, a $10 gift will be provided to respondents to the in-
person interview to increase the response rate. When an address is 
available, respondents will be notified of the data collection with a 
pre-notification letter. The Census Participation Survey will focus on 
the following topic areas:
     Awareness about the census and attitudes and perceptions 
about the Census Bureau;
     Barriers and motivations for census participation;
     Potential 2010 Census messaging alternatives;
     Current issues and their relevancy to census 
participation;
     Individual-level participation in Census 2000 (self-
reported) and participation intent for the 2010 Census; and
     Demographics, socioeconomics, and psychographics.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: CPS-2008.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,667.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to the respondents 
other than their time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 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 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: December 6, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-24199 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P