[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17148-17149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8403]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Services Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, 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 June 15, 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(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Lisa Donaldson, U.S. Census Bureau, 8K041, 
Washington, DC 20233-6500, and 301-763-7296.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a quarterly survey of service 
industry production--the Quarterly Services Survey (QSS). The QSS is a 
principal economic indicator series that produces, for selected service 
industries, quarterly estimates of total operating revenue and the 
percentage of revenue by class of customer. The survey also produces 
estimates of total operating expenses from tax-exempt firms in 
industries that have a large not-for-profit component. In addition, for 
hospital services, the survey estimates the number of inpatient days 
and discharge admissions. Current selected service industries include 
information services; professional scientific and technical services; 
hospitals; nursing and residential care facilities; administrative and 
support and waste management and remediation services; ambulatory 
health care services; social assistance; credit intermediation and 
related activities; securities, commodity contracts, and other 
financial investments and related

[[Page 17149]]

activities; truck transportation; courier and messengers; warehousing 
and storage; rental and leasing services; arts, entertainment, and 
recreation; and other services except public administration.
    Data are collected from all of the largest firms and from a sample 
of small- and medium-sized businesses selected using a stratified 
sampling procedure. Each quarter the sample is updated to reflect the 
addition of new business births and firms and organizations that have 
gone out-of-business.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses data gathered in this survey 
in developing its quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and GDP by 
industry estimates. The data provide the Federal Reserve Board and 
Council of Economic advisors with timely information to assess current 
economic performance. Other government and private stakeholders also 
benefit from a better understanding of important cyclical components of 
our economy.
    We are expanding the industry coverage of the QSS to include 
utilities; air transportation; water transportation; transit and ground 
passenger transportation; pipeline transportation; scenic and 
sightseeing transportation; support activities for transportation; 
monetary authorities-central bank; insurance carriers and related 
services; real estate; lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets 
(except copyrighted works); and educational services. For expanded 
industries, the survey will produce estimates of total operating 
revenue and operating expenses from the tax-exempt firms in industries 
that have a large not-for-profit component.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will collect this information by mail, fax, 
Internet, and a telephone follow-up.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0907.
    Form Number: QSS-1(A), QSS-1(E), QSS-2(A), QSS-2(E), QSS-3(A), QSS-
3(E), QSS-4(A), QSS-4(E), QSS-5(A), QSS-5(E), QSS-1A-PEO, QSS-1E-PEO.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, and government hospitals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,400.
    Estimated Time per Response: QSS-1(A), QSS-1(E), QSS-2(A), QSS-
2(E), QSS-3(A), QSS-3(E), QSS-5(A), QSS-5(E), QSS-1A-PEO, QSS-1E-PEO: 
15 minutes, QSS-4(A), QSS-4(E): 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $370,305.
    Respondents 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: April 8, 2009.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E9-8403 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P