[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12935-12936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5269]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American 
Community 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 May 9, 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(s) and instructions 
should be directed to James Treat, U.S. Census Bureau, American 
Community Survey Office, Washington, DC 20233, by FAX to (301) 763-8070 
or via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Given the rapid demographic changes experienced in recent years and 
the strong expectation that such changes will continue and accelerate, 
the once-a-decade detailed data collection as part of a decennial 
census is no longer acceptable for producing much of the data required 
by the Federal government, states, municipalities, and tribal 
governments. To meet the needs and expectations of the country, the 
Census Bureau developed the American Community Survey (ACS). This 
survey collects detailed population and housing data every month and 
provides tabulations of these data on a yearly

[[Page 12936]]

basis. In the past, the long-form data were collected only at the time 
of each decennial census. After years of development and testing, the 
ACS began full implementation in households in January 2005 and in 
group quarters (GQs) in January 2006.
    Collecting long-form data during the decade through the ACS has had 
a profound effect on the census design plan. The collection of long-
form data had added substantial burden and complexity to past decennial 
censuses. Implementing the ACS means that the Decennial Census can 
focus on its constitutional mandate to accurately count the population 
to apportion the House of Representatives. The ACS--supported by a 
complete and accurate address system--has simplified the census design, 
resulting in improvements in both coverage and data quality, while 
providing current data on detailed population, social, economic, and 
housing characteristics.
    The ACS provides more timely information for critical economic 
planning by governments and the private sector. In the current 
information-based economy, federal, state, tribal, and local decision 
makers, as well as private business and non-governmental organizations, 
need current, reliable, and comparable socioeconomic data to chart the 
future. In 2006, the ACS began publishing up-to-date profiles of 
American communities every year, providing policymakers, planners, and 
service providers in the public and private sectors this information 
every year--not just every ten years.
    The ACS released estimates of population and housing 
characteristics for geographic areas of all sizes in December 2010. 
These data products, used by federal agencies and others, are similar 
in scope to the Summary File 3 tables from Census 2000. The 2010 Census 
did not include these detailed characteristics, leaving the ACS as the 
source of data for uses previously associated with the decennial census 
long form.
    The Census Bureau presently plans to resubmit the ACS to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for extended clearance. The current ACS 
content has been reviewed by the Census Bureau, in conjunction with 
Federal agency stakeholders, to determine potential areas for improved 
item response and/or data quality.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail questionnaires to households selected 
for the ACS. For households that do not return a questionnaire, Census 
Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews via Computer-assisted 
Telephone Interviews (CATI). We will also conduct Computer-assisted 
Personal Interviews (CAPI) for a sub sample of nonrespondents. A 
content reinterview will be conducted from a small sample of 
respondents.
    For most types of GQs, Census Bureau field representatives (FRs) 
will conduct personal interviews with respondents to complete 
questionnaires or, if necessary, leave questionnaires and ask 
respondents to complete. Information from GQ contacts will be collected 
via CAPI. A GQ contact reinterview will be conducted from a sample of 
GQs primarily through CATI. A very small percentage of the GQ 
reinterviews will be conducted via CAPI.
    The Census Bureau staff will provide Telephone Questionnaire 
Assistance (TQA) and if the respondent indicates a desire to complete 
the survey by telephone, the TQA interviewer conducts the interview.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0810.
    Form Number: ACS-1, ACS-1(SP), ACS-1(PR), ACS-1(PR)SP, ACS-1(GQ), 
ACS-1(PR)(GQ), GQFQ, ACS CATI (HU), ACS CAPI (HU), ACS RI (HU), and AGQ 
QI, AGQ RI.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals, households, and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Pending receipt of requested funds 
to increase the ACS sample, we plan to contact the following number of 
respondents each year: 3,540,000 households; 200,000 persons in group 
quarters; 20,000 contacts in group quarters; 43,000 households for 
reinterview; and 1,500 group quarters contacts for reinterview.
    Estimated Time per Response: Estimates are 38 minutes per 
household, 15 minutes per group quarters contact, 25 minutes per 
resident in group quarters, and 10 minutes per household or GQ contact 
in the reinterview samples.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,337,900.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: Except for their time, there is no 
cost to respondents.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, 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: March 3, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-5269 Filed 3-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P