[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 76614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29621]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commercial 
Service--Client Focus Groups

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 17, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 and instructions should 
be directed to Susan Crawford, 202-482-2050, 
[email protected], Fax 202-482-2599.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service 
(CS) is mandated by Congress to help U.S. businesses, particularly 
small and medium-sized companies, export their products and services to 
global markets.
    As part of its mission, CS currently uses ``Quality Assurance 
Surveys'' to collect feedback from the U.S. business clients it serves. 
These surveys ask the client to evaluate the CS on its customer service 
provision. The results from the surveys are used to make improvements 
to business processes in order to provide better and more effective 
export assistance to U.S. companies. In addition to collecting client 
feedback through Quality Assurance Surveys, CS would like to use client 
focus groups as a mechanism to obtain further client feedback and 
substantiate customer service trends seen in the surveys. Qualitative 
client focus group data will enrich the quantitative survey data by 
providing insights and a descriptive context to explain the trends that 
emerge in the quantitative data.
    The CS proposes to modify the previously approved collection. Focus 
groups previously addressed awareness and branding issues, but CS plans 
to revise the questions to address quality improvement issues. The 
revised focus group discussion guide will enable CS to obtain a better 
understanding of actions it can take to improve the export-related 
services provided to U.S. firms. In providing these services, CS 
promotes the goods and services of small and medium-sized U.S. 
businesses in foreign markets.

II. Method of Collection

    U.S. firms will be recruited via telephone to participate in focus 
group discussions. Firms may be current Commercial Service clients or 
potential clients. Data will be collected through either face-to-face 
focus group discussion forums (6-8 participants per focus group) and 
conference calls, or through one-on-one qualitative interviews either 
in person or via phone. A moderator will facilitate the discussions and 
notes will be transcribed via computer. All comments from participants 
will be anonymous.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0254.
    Form Number(s): ITA-4153P.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 96.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 72.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.

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 10, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-29621 Filed 12-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P