[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 167 (Monday, August 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53691-53692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22029]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5480-N-87]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB 
Section 8 Random Digit Dialing Fair Marketing Rent Surveys

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below has been 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.
    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.

DATES: Comments Due: September 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
approval Number (2528-0142) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, 
Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503; fax: 202-395-5806. e-mail: [email protected] fax: 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard., Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Colette Pollard at Colette. 
[email protected]. or telephone (202) 402-3400. This is not a toll-free 
number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained 
from Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB a 
request for approval of the Information collection described below. 
This notice is soliciting comments from members of

[[Page 53692]]

the public and affecting 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 through 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 Marketing 
Rent Surveys.
    OMB Approval Number: 2528-0142.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Its 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 areas will be 
surveyed after the new methodology is determined.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion .

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                                         Number of          Annual             Hours per
                                        respondents       responses      x      response      =    Burden hours
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Reporting Burden....................            8572                1   ..          0.0702   ..             602
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    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 602.
    Status: Revision of a currently approved collection.

    Authority:  Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. 35, as amended.

    Dated: August 23, 2011.
Colette Pollard,
Departmental Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-22029 Filed 8-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P