[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45910-45911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18204]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Current 
Population Survey (CPS) Email Address Collection Test Supplement

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 September 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, 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 Kyra Linse, U.S. Census Bureau, DSD/CPS HQ-
7H108F, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 763-9280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request clearance for the collection of 
data concerning the November 2013 Email Address Collection Test 
Supplement. The Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 
sponsor the CPS which has been conducted for over 70 years.
    The Current Population Survey (CPS) has been collecting data on 
household employment for decades. Through the years, it has made survey 
improvements to keep the data quality and survey response rates high. 
Over the last few years, CPS, like many surveys, has seen response 
rates declining slowly. A review of paradata has found one of the main 
reasons for this decline is not just refusals but also respondent 
avoidance (i.e. the interviewers are unable to make contact with the 
respondent). This has led to an effort to think of new ways to contact 
respondents and reduce respondent burden so that they may be more 
likely to answer CPS over the many months needed.
    One of the solutions recommended has been to research the 
possibility of using the Internet as a data collection mode as well as 
a tool to help increase response rates. We foresee that in the future, 
we could collect email addresses from our respondents. For those that 
are eligible, we could then send an email to the respondent with a 
secure link in order for that respondent to complete the CPS the next 
month over the internet and in turn, keep up response rates while 
lowering costs of interviewing. Internet is not limited to just a 
survey data collection mode. These emails could be used for other 
contacts as well. We could allow the respondent to set up a time to 
meet with the interviewer at their convenience and save on travel costs 
associated with the multiple personal visits. The email could also be 
as simple as a ``Thank You'' with information that lets respondents 
know their participation is improving the quality of our data.
    This supplement is the first step in the review of the feasibility 
of this plan. It will test the ability of collecting email addresses 
and collecting interest in being contacted by email or answering the 
survey through the internet for possible future enhancements to CPS.

II. Method of Collection

    The email address collection will be collected by both personal 
visit and telephone interviews in conjunction with the regular November 
CPS interviewing. All interviews are conducted using computer-assisted 
interviewing.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: There are no forms. We conduct all interviews on 
computers.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 29,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,475.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to the respondents is 
that of their time.
    Respondents Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 182, and Title 29, U.S.C., 1-9.

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.


[[Page 45911]]


    Dated: July 24, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-18204 Filed 7-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P