[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 118 (Monday, June 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35905-35906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15275]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5486-N-13]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: 
Section 8 Fair Market Rent Surveys

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. An extension and 
modification of the survey mode of the collection effort that expires 
on August 31, 2011, is being requested.

DATES: Comments Due Date: August 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments must be received within thirty (60) days from 
the date of this Notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name/
or OMB approval number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, 
Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 8234, Washington, DC 
20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marie Lihn, Economic and Market 
Analysis Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 
8224, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 402-5866; e-mail [email protected]. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of the 
proposed forms and other available documents submitted to OMB may be 
obtained from Ms. Lihn.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Housing and Urban 
Development will submit the proposed information collection package to 
OMB for review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) Evaluate 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; (2) 
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; 
including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Section 8 Random Digit Dialing Fair Market Rent 
Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 2528-0142.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: HUD 
is evaluating alternative survey methodologies to collect gross rent 
data for specific areas in a relatively fast and accurate way that may 
be used to estimate and update Section 8 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) in 
areas where FMRs are believed to be incorrect and data from the 
American Community Survey is not available at the local level. Section 
8(C)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 requires the Secretary 
to publish Fair Market Rents (FMRs) annually to be effective on October 
1 of each year. FMRs are used for the Section 8 Rental Certificate 
Program (including space rentals by owners of manufactured homes under 
that program); the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy 
program; housing assisted under the Loan Management and Property 
Disposition programs; payment standards for the Rental Voucher program; 
and any other programs whose regulations specify their use.
    Random digit dialing (RDD) telephone surveys have been used for 
many years to adjust FMRs and will be evaluated for continued use. 
These surveys are based on a sampling procedure that uses computers to 
select statistically random samples of telephone numbers to locate 
certain types of rental housing units for surveying. Cell phone surveys 
will be incorporated into this methodology and comprise roughly one-
third of the sample. In addition HUD will collect survey data using 
web-based and mail systems. Initially, as the methodology is being 
refined, HUD will conduct surveys of up to 4 individual FMR areas in a 
year to test the accuracy of their FMRs. Up to 5 individual FMR area 
will be surveyed after the new methodology is determined.
    Members of affected public: Individuals or households living in 
areas surveyed.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response:

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                                                                   Screen  outs       Stayers         Movers
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TELEPHONE/CELLPHONE
    Households..................................................            3129             857             300
    Average Minutes.............................................            4.75             9.5             9.5
    Burden Hours................................................             265             140              49
        Total...................................................             454  ..............  ..............
MAIL/WEB
    Households..................................................            3129             857             300
    Average Minutes.............................................               1               5               5
    Burden Hours................................................              52              71              25
        Total...................................................             148  ..............  ..............

[[Page 35906]]

 
ALL MODES
    Total Number Responses......................................            8572  ..............  ..............
    Total Burden Hours..........................................             602  ..............  ..............
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    Status of the proposed information collection: Continuing under 
current authorization.

    Authority: Section 8(C)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 
1937.

    Dated: June 9, 2011.
Raphael W. Bostic,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development & Research.
[FR Doc. 2011-15275 Filed 6-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P