[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8337-8338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3173]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of 
Participating Companies in the U.S.-European Union and U.S.-Swiss Safe 
Harbor Frameworks

AGENCY: International Trade Administration.

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 information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 15, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 David A. Ritchie, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of 
Technology and Electronic Commerce, Telephone: 202-482-4936; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce in the 
Manufacturing and Services unit of the International Trade 
Administration (ITA) administers the U.S.-European Union (EU) and U.S.-
Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks. These Frameworks allow U.S. companies to 
meet the requirements of the European Union's Data Protection Directive 
and the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection, respectively. This is 
significant because the Frameworks ensure uninterrupted transfers of 
personal information worth billions of dollars in trade between the 
United States and the EU and Switzerland.
    In line with the President's National Export Initiative, ITA is 
interested in gathering information from U.S. companies that use the 
U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks to better evaluate the 
programs and how they support U.S. exports. The information will be 
obtained via a survey using the following questions:
    (1) Does your company's participation in the U.S.-EU or U.S.-Swiss 
Safe Harbor programs help your company increase U.S. exports and 
support U.S. jobs? Please explain.
    (2) Please specify the approximate amount of exports in United 
States Dollars (USD) facilitated by your company's participation in the 
U.S.-EU or U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor programs

[[Page 8338]]

(please include any sales or contracts that were won or retained as a 
result of your participation in the programs).
    (3) How much of your annual sales/exports to Europe, Switzerland, 
or other parts of the world are dependent on self-certification to the 
U.S.-EU or U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor programs?
    (4) Does your company currently have a contract that is dependent 
on self-certification to the U.S.-EU or U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor 
programs? If so, what is the value of that contract(s)?
    (5) What do the U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor programs mean to 
your company in terms of business opportunities in Europe?
    (6) Tell us what you think about the U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss Safe 
Harbor programs?

II. Method of Collection

    The information will be collected via an electronic form on the 
Safe Harbor Web site (http://www.export.gov/safeharbor).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,300.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 767.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $500.

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 will 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: February 8, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-3173 Filed 2-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P