[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81474-81475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33269]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American 
Community Survey 2013 Content Changes and Internet Response Mode

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

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 February 27, 2012.

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 Cheryl Chambers, 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

    The American Community Survey (ACS) collects detailed population 
and housing data every month and provides tabulations of these data on 
a yearly 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.
    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.
    In the 2010 ACS Content Test, the Census Bureau conducted testing 
of two new question topics--computer and Internet usage and parental 
place of birth--which we are considering adding to the questionnaire 
starting in 2013. As authorized by the Broadband Data Improvement Act 
of 2008, the Federal Communications Commission sponsored the computer 
and Internet usage topic; it is comprised of three questions with a mix 
of fixed choice and open-ended responses. The Census Bureau sponsored 
the parental place of birth topic; it includes two open-ended 
questions. The 2010 Content Test results for the two new topics were 
presented to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in September 
2011. Reports describing these results will be made available publicly 
in early 2012.
    The Census Bureau believes there is added value in collecting 
information about parental place of birth, though some may feel that 
this topic is somewhat duplicative when collected in connection with 
existing survey questions on race, Hispanic origin, and ancestry. 
Adding the parental place of birth questions to the questionnaire in 
2013 would be done as part of a multi-year process to further examine 
the relationship of the data for these topics. The ACS data would also 
be evaluated in connection with results from the 2010 Census 
Alternative Questionnaire Experiment, and this combined research would 
be used in determining recommendations for which questions would remain 
on the ACS at the conclusion of this process. The Census Bureau plans 
to provide various opportunities for public comment as well as dialogue 
with groups that are especially interested in these data as we refine 
the plans and share results on this cross-topical research.
    In the 2010 ACS Content Test, the Census Bureau also conducted 
testing on five existing question topics, veteran's status and period 
of service, food stamps, property income and wages which we are 
planning to incorporate into the survey starting in 2013. The Census 
Bureau revised the food stamp question, at the request of the Food and 
Nutrition Service, to incorporate the program name change to the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The new version will 
be used in all collection modes. The Census Bureau revised the wage 
question to improve response on property income and reporting of wages 
by breaking up these questions into shorter pieces to improve 
comprehension when the questions are asked by an interviewer. This 
change will be incorporated into the Computer-

[[Page 81475]]

assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) and Computer-assisted Personal 
Interview (CAPI) modes only. At the request of the Department of 
Veteran Affairs, the Census Bureau revised the veteran status and 
period of service questions to simplify the reporting categories. The 
new version will be used by all collection modes. The 2010 Content Test 
results for the five existing topics were presented to OMB in September 
2011. Reports describing these results will be made available publicly 
in early 2012.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will mail survey materials to households selected 
for the ACS. For households that do not return a questionnaire, Census 
Bureau staff will attempt to conduct interviews via CATI. We will also 
conduct CAPI for a sub sample of nonrespondents. A content reinterview 
will be conducted from a small sample of respondents.
    In 2011 the Census Bureau conducted two tests to assess the 
feasibility of providing an Internet response option to households that 
receive survey materials by mail. These tests evaluated various methods 
for providing an Internet response option. One option tested offering 
respondents the choice to respond by Internet or mail. Another method 
tested provided only instructions to respond online initially, and sent 
a follow-up paper questionnaire to households that did not respond 
online or did not have Internet access. Implementing an Internet 
response option may lead to cost savings for administering the ACS as 
well as improvements in the quality of the data provided. Depending on 
the results of the 2011 tests, the Census Bureau is considering 
implementing an Internet response option for the ACS in 2013. Reports 
describing the results of the April 2011 test will be made available 
publicly in early 2012.
    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: 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: The estimate is an annual 
average of 2,337,900 burden hours.
    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 141, 193, 
221.

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: December 22, 2011
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-33269 Filed 12-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P